Policy · 2h ago
Texas Data Center Boom Fuels Fossil Fuel Power Surge
Thousands of new fossil-fuel power plants are being built in Texas to meet the energy demands of AI data centers, exploiting a regulatory loophole. Residents report feeling blindsided by the rapid development and resulting pollution. The surge threatens to undermine the state's environmental goals and public health.
Meridian48 take
The story underscores the hidden environmental cost of AI expansion, but regulators and tech companies have yet to address the loophole enabling this pollution.
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Data Centers Are Quietly Taking Over Texas. The Pollution Could Be Catastrophic →
Wired
data-centersenergy-regulation