A Fordham Focus on AI: Sounding the Alarm on Data Centers’ Environmental Impact

This article discusses the environmental impact of data centers, particularly those used for AI models like ChatGPT. It highlights concerns around the high energy consumption of these data centers and their potential to undermine efforts to shift to renewable energy sources. The article also explores potential solutions, such as having data centers pay the full cost of grid connection or be charged higher rates to cover the burden they impose on the electricity grid. The article features comments from Fordham economics professor Marc Conte, who is researching the electricity and carbon emissions associated with AI models and exploring ways to optimize energy usage.