AI bit barns grow climate emergency by turning up the gas
https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/ai_datacenters_driving_up_emissions/
By Dan Robinson
Power-hungry data centers still talk up renewables while they cram in gas turbines to keep the lights on. Hyperscalers’ race for cheap, steady power means more dirty energy as new gas plants come online. One forecast warns these additions could dump about 44 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030—roughly equal to emissions from 10 million cars each year. The contrast between green promises and practical choices is hard to ignore.
