With half of all Americans using Artificial Intelligence (AI) every day, and 99% using AI powered tools every week, it’s clear that AI has now become profoundly embedded in our everyday lives. But how are we able to access and use AI so effortlessly? The answer lies in the massive datacenters that hold an elaborate network of computer servers, cooling systems, and data storing consoles. This large network of systems that are consistently running requires an immense amount of energy and water to efficiently operate.
What does this mean for the construction of AI datacenters in a state such as Connecticut, that lacks the proper infrastructure, energy grid, and environmental protections needed to support these large-scale AI datacenters? As a lifelong resident of Connecticut, I find myself particularly concerned with Gov. Ned Lamont’s recent push for the development of AI datacenters, without fully addressing these challenges in advance. He says that he wants to prioritize AI as the sector becomes more essential to Connecticut’s economy. However, according to State Senator Norm Needleman, AI was not even a topic of public policy discussions seven years ago, and now the industry estimates a $2 trillion investment over the next five to 10 years. Lamont also pushed back when asked if he was concerned over potential opposition by residents over future datacenters, saying “Look there’s no ‘Not in My Backyard’ when it comes to datacenters.”
I worry that we, the residents of Connecticut, will be left to pay the financial and environmental costs while the state government and large corporations economically benefit from taking part in the latest AI race. As residents of the land that must bear the burden of datacenters in Connecticut, we must stay informed on what the implications of datacenters in our area are and advocate for what benefits our communities.
With every prompt entered into an AI system, significant energy is needed to power the computers that generate its response, along with cooling systems to regulate the heat created by this quick and efficient hardware. However, the demands of AI aren’t the same as a typical search engine. For example, a ChatGPT search takes up 10 times as much data as a Google search. According to the 2024 U.S. Data Center Energy Usage Report, the rapid growth in accelerated servers has caused the total data center energy demand to more than double between 2017 and 2023. To put it into a greater perspective, some AI datacenters consume the same amount of energy that could be used to power around 50,000 homes.
It’s imperative to consider how this could affect the energy grid in CT, and more specifically, your energy bill. Connecticut homeowners currently pay one of the top 3 most expensive electricity bills in the country. Not to mention the recent 7.2% increase in the standard service provided by Eversource, the largest energy utility in the state. According to a study by Powerchoice Texas, AI datacenters may cause Connecticut electric bills to rise approximately 68% by the year 2030. This would mean monthly bills rising from around the average $168 last year, to an estimated $279 per month by 2030.
Our state sees some of the highest bills due to aging energy grid infrastructure and more importantly, our over-reliance on natural gas. This fossil fuel would also become a source for the rigorous energy demand of possible AI datacenters in Connecticut. This would mean an increase in burning fossil fuels at power plants that are currently the leading source of air pollution in the United States. Nonetheless, the generators at datacenters release toxic air pollutants such as diesel exhaust, that contain particles too small to be filtered out of the air by the nose and upper respiratory system. Nitrogen dioxide is also released and can cause breathing problems in a short amount of time, making those who have preexisting lung problems extremely vulnerable. It’s undeniable that these datacenters could pose an environmental justice concern by threatening public health and should not be a risk that we are willing to take.
Connecticut is a state that prides itself on strong environmental policies and programs that conserve energy, mitigate emissions, and prioritize meeting goals equitably. Yet, it’s alarming when our state representative promotes incentives that undermine these values during a time where our world is already battling irreversible climate impact. Not including that Connecticut is already struggling with some of the lowest air quality in the country; it ranks 42nd among the 50 states. As residents of Connecticut, we must demand a high standard of adequate preparation, full transparency, and a clear commitment to addressing the environmental and financial costs before allowing incautious projects to move forward. Is an idealized promise of economic growth worth the sacrifice of our electricity bills, environmental standards, and clean air?
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Izzy Chimento is a student at Dickinson College majoring in Environmental Studies