Data Centers Rely on Dirty Gas Turbines, Boosting Emissions

TL;DR. New reports confirm major data centers power their operations with less efficient gas plants, significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. - Amazon's Texas data center will use simple cycle turbines, potentially emitting 33 million tons of greenhouse gases annually. - Meta and Microsoft data centers in Ohio and Texas also plan to use these dirtier simple cycle power units. - The practice provides flexible, quick-to-install power but has major climate implications for the future grid and AI industry.

• Amazon's Texas data center to use inefficient gas plants, becoming a major US emitter.
• Simple cycle turbines, less efficient than standard plants, are increasingly powering data centers.
• Meta, Microsoft, and xAI data centers are also adopting these dirty power solutions.
• This trend boosts greenhouse gas emissions and impacts AI's environmental footprint.

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