Data centers for AI use huge amounts of electricity, water, driving up costs and climate concerns

Data centers for AI use huge amounts of electricity, water, driving up costs and climate concerns

News ClipCBS News·Naperville, IL·2/13/2026

This story covers the environmental concerns around the growing number of data centers, particularly related to their high electricity and water usage. It discusses opposition from residents in Naperville, Illinois, who raised concerns about water usage, health risks, and utility costs. It also mentions the rapid growth of data centers in Aurora, Illinois, leading the city to implement a temporary moratorium to research best practices.

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CyrusOne
Gov: Naperville City Council, Aurora
Multiple reports show the data centers used to store, train and operate AI models use significant amounts of energy and water, with a rippling impact on the environment and public health. According to the International Energy Agency, a typical AI data center uses as much electricity as 100,000 hous