HARRISBURG,Pa. — AI is driving up energy needs fast, pushing fossil fuel infrastructure like natural gas plants back into action. As tech giants expand data centers,renewable energy advocates worry AI boom might sidetrack climate goals.
States with strict climate policies are on edge about data centers' impact on emissions targets . They're crafting laws to make sure these centers hit renewable benchmarks. In New York, for example, a bill on Governor Kathy Hochul's desk requires big data centers to comply.
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez,who wrote the New York bill,pointed out that wealthy companies eyeing New York should also invest in renewables. “These are the richest companies on the planet,” she argued,“If they can spend billions on data centers,they can fund renewable energy too.”
States like Michigan,Oregon, and Minnesota have laws to protect existing clean energy goals. These laws demand utilities use emissions-free energy by 2040 — a tough task with fast-growing data center energy use . Oregon's Bob Jenks said meeting these goals was hard enough before data centers.
In Michigan,hyperscale data centers need 90% clean energy within six years to get a sales tax break. Similar bills are popping up in states like California,Illinois, and New Jersey. California's Senator John Padilla says,“We can't keep doing business as usual with this demand.”
While natural gas projects grow,companies like Google are pouring money into zero-emission energy like solar and wind . But they hit snags with utilities slow to deliver power . To fix this,tech firms and green groups are pushing for grid access reforms,even where clean energy rules face resistance.
Greg Robinson from Aston Power compares it to FedEx's rise when businesses needed faster delivery than the postal service offered. “Businesses said,‘We’re doing more now,postal service can't keep up. Maybe there's room for a new service,’” he said.
Utilities,which usually profit from building plants and lines, are urged by clean energy advocates to see grid access benefits. This could help manage electricity costs and secure long-term contracts with big energy users.
Last year, Colorado's regulators told Xcel Energy to set up a program for big power users to develop clean energy projects that link to grid . In April,Xcel noted potential program benefits, citing successful renewable projects with Google.
Google's deal with NV Energy, Nevada's biggest utility,broke new ground and is now being copied in eight more states,like Indiana and Missouri. The Corporate Energy Buyers Association,including major tech firms, struck a deal with Georgia Power to build clean energy sources connected to the grid.
Nidhi Thaker,policy VP at the Corporate Energy Buyers Association,called these moves significant. “These are some of the most incredible and understated innovations in regulatory and energy procurement,” she said,predicting they'll shape energy policy for decades.
