Bucknell experts offer insight about data centers, AI, power, and water
Experts from Bucknell University discuss the growing electricity and water demands of data centers, especially those powering AI, across Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order to implement new "guardrails" on data center development in the state. The experts emphasize the need to balance AI's transformative power with its substantial resource consumption and local environmental impacts.
Three experts from Bucknell University, Brian King (computer science), Benjamin Hayes (watershed sciences & engineering), and Lily Li (mechanical engineering), recently provided insights into the escalating demands of data centers, particularly those fueling artificial intelligence. They highlight Pennsylvania's attractiveness to developers due to its land, energy resources, and strategic location near major East Coast population centers.
The experts note that while AI may seem ethereal, its physical footprint is substantial. Data centers, necessary for AI tools, consume immense amounts of electricity and water. Professor King points to U.S. Department of Energy estimates showing data center electricity consumption rising from 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 to an projected 12% by 2028, stressing the grid. Professor Hayes adds that data centers' cooling systems require large quantities of water, potentially impacting local aquatic environments, especially in smaller watersheds.
In response to these concerns, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order on August 18, establishing new "guardrails" for data center development. This order mandates that developers cover new generation and grid costs, rather than shifting them to ratepayers, and requires environmental protections, transparency, and community involvement. The experts suggest solutions like using smaller, specialized AI models to reduce energy consumption and exploring more distributed computing loads to mitigate infrastructure strain.