Amazon's new data center projected to be top source of US emissions
Amazon’s sustainability chief foresees a multi-year uptick in the company’s carbon footprint.
A new Amazon data center project in Texas could become the single largest source of power-related emissions in the United States, according to The New York Times. This development has sparked controversy as Amazon's sustainability chief anticipates a rise in the company's carbon footprint over the coming years, as reported by Semafor.
Separately, former Microsoft engineers' research suggests that the application of AI by fossil fuel companies to enhance drilling processes will result in an emissions spike that could negate the reductions achieved through AI adoption by clean energy companies. The issue has divided policymakers along political lines, with Texas' Republican governor imposing a moratorium on new data center permits, while Virginia's Democratic governor has pledged to intervene in a major power company merger, warning of potential increases in household energy costs.
In Congress, Democrats are divided on whether to seek a moratorium on the expansion or simply reduce the tax credits that facilitate it.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
