Underwater data centers may be coming to the U.S.—smack in the middle of endangered whale habitat
Ocean water could help dissipate the heat from data centers, but the infrastructure could threaten endangered whales
The U.S. government is considering proposals to build underwater data centers off the coast in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and the Gulf of Maine. These data centers would utilize ocean water to dissipate heat generated by thousands of servers, potentially eliminating the need for freshwater cooling—a costly requirement for land-based facilities.
However, environmentalists and whale researchers warn that these projects could threaten endangered whale populations inhabiting the same waters. The beluga whales in Cook Inlet, estimated at around 300 critically endangered individuals, and the North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of Maine, with a population below 400, are particularly vulnerable to noise pollution.
Whales are "skittish animals," with noise from pumps, fans, turbines, and construction activities potentially causing significant stress. Additionally, the heat from the data centers could disrupt local ecosystems, as warmer waters may harm salmon populations, a primary food source for belugas and essential to their survival. As the public comment period for the Maine project closes and the Cook Inlet proposal moves forward, environmental groups and local communities express strong opposition to the plan.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
