Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, recently reported some alarming trends about the health impacts of California’s data centers. From 2019 to 2023, pollution associated with these facilities has tripled. If nothing changes, health issues related to air quality could rise by another 72% by 2028.
This spike in pollution correlates with a near doubling of electricity used by these data centers. Experts predict that by 2028, the electricity consumption from data centers could reach over 25 terawatt-hours annually, enough power for around 2.4 million homes.
Shaolei Ren, a computer engineering professor at UCR, emphasizes the importance of policy changes to mitigate these effects. He advocates replacing diesel backup generators with cleaner technologies like long-duration battery storage. Diesel generators are a significant pollution source, releasing harmful nitrogen oxides that contribute to smog and respiratory problems.
A report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reveals that data centers may represent up to 12% of U.S. electricity demand by 2028. This slow shift from renewable energy increases greenhouse gas emissions despite California’s efforts to maintain a cleaner energy grid.
In 2019, California’s carbon emissions for electricity production were already lower than the national average. However, data centers still contribute to rising emissions, largely due to an increased demand for processing power and reliance on fossil fuels.
Water consumption is another pressing concern. Data centers in California used up to 50 billion liters of water for cooling and electricity generation in 2023. This number could rise to 116 billion liters by 2028, which is particularly troubling in a state that frequently experiences drought. To put it into perspective, that’s enough water to fill 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The lack of transparency around data center operations makes it hard to fully understand their environmental impact. Ren points out that most centers are co-location facilities, housing servers for multiple companies, yet public data on their environmental footprint is minimal.
Experts agree that we need stronger regulations and clearer data on the environmental costs of these facilities. As data centers become a bigger part of our lives, it’s essential to balance technological growth with sustainable practices to protect public health and the environment. The full report, titled “An Assessment of California Data Centers’ Environmental and Public Health Impacts,” can be found through Next 10, a trusted nonprofit organization focused on research and policy recommendations.
Understanding and addressing the challenges posed by data centers is crucial as California and the world move forward technologically while combating climate change.
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