Did you know that if all the data centers currently proposed in Minnesota were built they could use as much electricity as every home in the state? In Minnesota, once an industry arrives, our power suppliers must support their energy needs. Will this mean backsliding on our carbon-free goals? Reopening shuttered coal plants? We’re already seeing impacts at the legislature. For example, proponents of lifting the state’s ban on nuclear power are pointing to data center demand to justify this change.
All of that is worrisome enough, but the potential impacts of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and data centers on our environment are wide-ranging. From exacerbating the climate crisis, to draining water resources, to incentivizing mining, this industry has implications across MCEA’s work.
That's why MCEA staff are diving deep into this emerging issue. Don't miss “The Digital Dilemma: The environmental cost of AI, cryptocurrency, and data centers” on Wednesday, February 26th at noon. Learn more from MCEA leaders’ so we can work together to advocate for a path that protects Minnesota’s climate progress and water from this digital dilemma.