More Data Centers, More Coal Emissions — and an OU Researcher Watching Atlantic Storms
Oklahoma’s expanding data center industry is increasing electricity and water demand, contributing to greater reliance on coal-fired power plants and related ozone pollution. Google’s Pryor facility uses about 3 million gallons of water daily, while a refrigerant leak at the facility hospitalized 14 people last year.
Oklahoma Watch examines how the state’s data center growth is affecting electricity, water resources and air quality. University of Oklahoma researcher Xiao-Ming Hu said emissions from coal-burning power plants can be carried into Oklahoma by Atlantic storms, and warned that additional data centers could increase those emissions by driving further power demand.
The article also highlights the resource demands and safety risks associated with data center operations. Google’s facility in Pryor reportedly uses roughly 3 million gallons of water per day, while a refrigerant leak there last year sent 14 people to the hospital. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the Grand River Dam Authority $28.5 million to upgrade a coal-fired plant, though the article notes that only a small share of data centers currently use refrigerant-based cooling.