EPA
&
Power plant emissions
&
Power plant emissions
What does EPA stand for ?
Environmental Protection Agency
What technology is increasing demand for power plants?
Artificial intelligence (AI).
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
What gas increases when fossil fuel use rises?
How much regulatory scrutiny do data centers currently face?
Very little regulatory scrutiny.
Name one major tech company investing in clean energy.
Amazon, Meta, or Alphabet (Google).
The New York Times
Which newspaper obtained the EPA draft documents?
What facilities does AI rely on to operate?
Data centers.
What global issue does rising CO₂ contribute to?
Climate change / global warming.
Which country is taking energy regulation of data centers seriously?
Ireland.
Wind, solar, and nuclear energy.
What types of renewable energy do tech companies invest in?
What is the EPA reportedly planning to eliminate limits on?
Limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
AI requires massive computing power and constant electricity.
Why are data centers increasing electricity demand so rapidly?
What type of weather events can result from higher global temperatures?
Extreme weather events.
Which major tech companies operate data centers in Ireland?
Amazon and other large US tech firms.
Energy is often produced far from where it is used.
Why are these clean energy investments sometimes criticized?
AI increases electricity demand, forcing more fossil fuel use.
Why does rising AI energy demand make emissions harder to control?
Why is data center energy growth outpacing renewable energy expansion?
Renewables are growing more slowly than energy demand.
Why are the public health effects described as more global than local?
Because emissions affect climate worldwide.
They should add as much capacity as they consume.
What rule has been proposed for new data centers regarding grid capacity?
What mismatch exists between company promises and local grid realities?
Local grids still face shortages despite sustainability claims.
How eliminating power plant emission limits could worsen climate change?
Allows more emissions, increasing CO₂ and accelerating global warming.
Grids were not built for such rapid large-scale energy growth.
Why grid capacity is struggling to keep up with AI-related power demand?
How does work the chain reaction linking AI energy use to climate and public health risks?
More AI power use → more fossil fuels → more CO₂ → rising temperatures → extreme weather → health risks
Why is the US unlikely to impose strict data center energy regulations soon?
The US wants to promote AI growth and become an AI superpower.
AI increases demand while grids still rely heavily on fossil fuels.
What are the tension between AI growth, climate goals, and fossil fuel dependence?