Powering AI With Dirty Energy Risks Our Planet, Ignoring the Clean Future Within Reach

The promise of artificial intelligence is dazzling. From revolutionizing healthcare to reshaping global markets, AI holds the potential to redefine human progress. Yet, as leaders gathered at Oklahoma State University’s Hamm Institute for the Powering AI: Global Leadership Summit, a darker reality loomed. The energy demands of AI data centers are skyrocketing, threatening to unravel decades of environmental progress. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, championed a vision of energy abundance rooted in fossil fuels. Their rhetoric, cloaked in terms of national security and technological dominance, ignores a critical truth: the path they advocate risks catastrophic environmental consequences.

Data centers powering AI are no small players in the energy game. By 2030, they’re projected to consume as much electricity as Japan, roughly 945 terawatt-hours globally. In the U.S., these facilities will drive nearly half of new electricity demand, outpacing energy-intensive industries like steel and cement. The numbers are staggering, but the stakes are higher. Without a deliberate shift toward sustainability, the AI boom could lock in fossil fuel dependence, spike carbon emissions, and burden communities with soaring energy costs. The USDA’s recent push, led by Rollins, to streamline regulations and prioritize biofuels and fossil fuel infrastructure is a step backward, dressed up as progress.

The summit’s focus on unleashing American energy through deregulation and fossil fuel expansion reveals a troubling disconnect. Advocates for this approach argue that natural gas and coal are indispensable for the reliable, round-the-clock power AI demands. They point to the 80 new gas plants planned by 2030, adding 46 gigawatts of capacity, as proof of necessity. But this logic sidesteps the long-term costs: polluted air, strained water resources, and a climate crisis spiraling out of control. The real question isn’t whether we can power AI, but whether we can do so without sacrificing the planet.

For those new to this debate, the issue boils down to a choice. Do we chase short-term gains, leaning on dirty energy to fuel AI’s growth? Or do we invest in a future where innovation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand? The answer, rooted in both science and moral clarity, demands a rejection of fossil fuel nostalgia and a bold embrace of renewable energy.

AI’s energy appetite isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s an environmental crisis in the making. Data centers, especially those optimized for AI, can consume up to ten times more power than traditional servers. Globally, their electricity use is expected to double by 2030, with North America alone seeing a near doubling of data center power demand from 2022 to 2023. This surge is straining grids, forcing utilities in some regions to lean on coal and gas despite corporate pledges for clean energy. The carbon footprint is alarming, but so is the water consumption. Cooling these facilities guzzles billions of gallons annually, stressing local water supplies in already parched regions.

Advocates for environmental justice, alongside climate scientists, have sounded the alarm. They’re pushing for mandatory impact assessments to quantify AI’s toll on ecosystems and communities. Proposed legislation, like bills backed by Democratic lawmakers, would require tech companies to disclose their data centers’ energy and water use. The European Union’s AI Act already sets a precedent, mandating lifecycle impact reports for high-risk AI systems. These measures aren’t bureaucratic overreach; they’re essential to ensure AI doesn’t become a runaway train, leaving environmental devastation in its wake.

Contrast this with the USDA’s current trajectory. Rollins’ collaboration with Wright and Zeldin emphasizes deregulation and fossil fuel expansion, framed as a patriotic necessity. They argue that streamlining permitting and tapping federal lands for energy projects will secure America’s AI leadership. But this approach glosses over the collateral damage. Increased fossil fuel reliance will spike emissions, exacerbate climate-driven disasters, and disproportionately harm marginalized communities near extraction sites. The claim that fossil fuels are the only path to energy security is not just shortsighted; it’s a betrayal of future generations.

Opponents of regulation often invoke the specter of economic stagnation, warning that environmental oversight will stifle innovation. Yet, history tells a different story. The Clean Air Act and other landmark laws spurred technological advancements while protecting public health. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft are already proving that renewable energy can power data centers through power purchase agreements and onsite solar and wind projects. The USDA’s insistence on fossil fuels isn’t a defense of progress; it’s a concession to entrenched interests, prioritizing profit over people.

The good news? A sustainable future for AI is within reach. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are not just viable; they’re increasingly cost-competitive. Tax incentives and private sector commitments have driven explosive growth in clean energy, with renewables now accounting for a growing share of U.S. electricity. Companies like Amazon and Meta are investing billions in solar farms and wind turbines to power their data centers. Demand response programs, which shift energy use to off-peak times, and advanced cooling technologies are further easing grid strain. These innovations show that AI’s growth doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense.

Policy can accelerate this transition. The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, a bipartisan effort, could unlock clean energy projects by streamlining approvals, which often delay renewables more than fossil fuels. Investing in grid modernization and energy storage, like next-generation batteries, would address renewables’ intermittency, ensuring reliable power for AI hubs. Nuclear energy, despite its challenges, also offers a low-carbon complement. Advocates for climate action are clear: a diverse, decarbonized energy mix is the only way to balance AI’s demands with environmental imperatives.

The USDA’s current leadership, however, seems blind to this potential. By doubling down on fossil fuels and biofuels, they’re betting on a fading paradigm. Biofuels, while less harmful than coal, still produce significant emissions and compete with food production, driving up costs for farmers and consumers. The focus on deregulation, meanwhile, risks gutting protections that safeguard rural communities from pollution. For everyday Americans, the consequences are tangible: higher energy bills, dirtier air, and a future where climate disasters hit harder and more often.

The choice is stark. We can follow the USDA’s lead, chaining AI’s potential to a fossil fuel past, or we can chart a new course. Renewable energy, paired with smart regulation, offers a way to power AI while protecting the environment. It’s not just a technical fix; it’s a moral commitment to equity, sustainability, and a world where innovation doesn’t cost us the earth.

The AI revolution is a defining moment, not just for technology, but for humanity’s relationship with the planet. The USDA’s vision, articulated at the Hamm Institute, prioritizes short-term dominance over long-term survival. It’s a false dichotomy. We don’t have to choose between leading in AI and preserving the environment. By investing in renewables, enforcing transparent regulations, and fostering innovation in energy efficiency, we can secure both. The real threat to America’s future isn’t a lack of fossil fuels; it’s a lack of courage to embrace a cleaner, smarter path.

For readers wondering what this means for them, consider the stakes. Cleaner energy means lower costs over time, healthier communities, and a planet that can sustain your children’s future. The fight for sustainable AI isn’t abstract; it’s about the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the stability of the world you live in. Rejecting the fossil fuel agenda and demanding a renewable-powered AI revolution is a step toward justice, progress, and a legacy we can be proud of.