News 12 Investigates: AI’s growing demand for power and water
The expansion of AI is increasing demand for data centers, raising concerns about their electricity consumption and water needs in Eastern North Carolina. Beaufort County and the towns of Farmville and Newport approved one-year pauses on data center development, while Pitt County commissioners began discussing a possible moratorium as officials consider future regulations.
WCTI News 12 examined how growing artificial intelligence use is driving demand for data centers and the electricity and water needed to operate and cool them. ECU computer science professor David Hart explained that each AI prompt requires substantial GPU computing, while federal research cited in the report found that U.S. data centers consumed about 4.4% of the nation’s electricity in 2023. A 100-megawatt facility could use as much electricity as 80,000 homes and as much water as roughly 2,600 households.
The resource demands are prompting local debate across Eastern Carolina. Beaufort County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium in a 6-1 vote, and Farmville and Newport also approved yearlong pauses. Pitt County commissioners unanimously agreed to begin discussions about a possible one-year moratorium while local leaders consider regulations for future data center development.