The explosive growth of the data center industry, caused in large part by the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), is putting profits ahead of people. While many of these data centers are supporting useful technology, we can’t build new methane gas plants – or keep old, polluting coal plants online – to meet that demand if we want to transition to a zero-pollution electricity mix. It directly threatens our nation’s and our region’s climate commitments.
CCAN believes that the data center buildout must be sustainable, transparent, and take into account community input.
The University of Maryland recently completed a study saying that at current emission reduction rates, we would reduce statewide 2006 emissions levels by 42% by 2031. Well short of the 60% statutorily required emissions reduction goal for the state And that is NOT including the building of any data centers, which would put our goals further out of reach.
For example, the project in Dickerson (Montgomery County) would increase our statewide emissions between 1-2% and would be the largest source of pollution in Montgomery County and increase the county's emissions by 12.5%. It would exacerbate rising utility costs and make it increasingly difficult to meet our climate goals and to keep energy costs low for Marylanders.
Across the state, we are demanding that they be powered by 100% clean energy and must come online at a pace where they can meet their energy demands with 100% clean energy.
We also believe regulators must require data centers to source their own clean energy, without compromising local and state climate goals.
The ONLY thing that will make this possible is if voters like you say NO to dirty data centers and YES to 100% clean power. We are not opposed to data centers. We are opposed to dirty ones that destroy our climate.
Sign the petition today:
NO to dirty data centers and YES to 100% clean power!
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the effect that large tech companies are having on our clean energy transition. Building massive data centers that don’t run on clean energy or meet energy efficiency standards is a serious barrier to moving to a zero-carbon electricity grid.
That’s why we support a policy that would ensure that facilities are energy efficient and run on 100% clean energy. While some Big Tech companies have green pledges, this would level the playing field to ensure that they all meet these same climate standards.
Sincerely,
