{
  "id": 17096086,
  "title": "Data centers could send US climate pollution skyrocketing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/data-centers-could-send-us-climate-pollution-skyrocketing",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:10:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Verge",
    "slug": "the-verge",
    "url": "https://www.theverge.com/science/1022258/data-centers-climate-change-carbon-dioxide-pollution-gas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Data centers could potentially exacerbate climate pollution in the United States, according to a new analysis by the Sierra Club. The group warns that power plants specifically built for data centers could lead to a 42 percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 compared to 2025 levels, effectively erasing 15 years of greenhouse gas reductions. If these plans for AI projects are realized, CO2 emissions from electricity generation could surge by 618 million tons by the end of the decade, equivalent to the carbon pollution generated by the electricity usage of 128.8 million homes annually.\n\nThe Sierra Club's estimates surpass previous projections from other organizations, emphasizing the potential impact of data center expansion on climate objectives. A separate study published in June by academic researchers suggests that data center and cryptocurrency mining electricity demand could increase power sector emissions by 28 percent by 2030, relative to a scenario with no growth in data center infrastructure.\n\nThe trajectory of US greenhouse gas emissions has improved since peaking at approximately 6.58 billion metric tons in 2007, currently standing at around 5.35 billion metric tons in 2025. However, this progress has temporarily stalled as data centers have driven up electricity demand. The Trump administration has been encouraging the construction of fossil fuel infrastructure for data centers, while simultaneously weakening pollution regulations and delaying renewable energy initiatives. Furthermore, a report released this month by the Environmental Defense Fund indicates that the US plans to build more fossil fuel capacity than it has in a decade, exacerbating the potential for rising emissions in the power sector.\n\nThe outcome of this situation hinges on the realization of planned data center projects and the type of technology employed to power these facilities.",
  "summary": "The US power sector could release 42 percent more planet-heating carbon dioxide pollution by 2030 than it did in 2025 as it builds out more fossil fuel infrastructure to meet data center electricity demand, according to a new analysis by the Sierra Club. That would essentially wipe out 15 years of greenhouse gas reductions. CO2 […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}