PennEnvironment Offers A.I. Data Center Resources: True Costs Of Data Centers To The Environment, Consumers; Impacts Of Dirty Backup Generators; Slowing Transition To Clean Energy

Across Pennsylvania there is growing concern about the threats posed by the data center boom, and what it means for our planet, health and our pocketbooks.

To help make sure Pennsylvanians know about the environmental risks associated with data centers, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center has released a series of reports and studies to help inform the public. 

Consumer & Environmental Risks

PennEnvironment’s deep-dive study about the environmental and consumer risks posed by data centers--  Big Data Centers, Big Problems-- uncovers the surging environmental and consumer costs of A.I., crypto and big data, and how the rapid growth of data centers will deepen America’s reliance on fossil fuels and put consumers and communities at risk.

Clean Energy Transition At Risk

The second study-- Energy Transition at Risk-- tracks a dramatic slowdown in the pace of coal plant retirements across the country due to data centers and energy needs. 

In 2022, America was on track to eliminate dirty coal-fired power from the grid by 2040. 

But new data shows that coal plant retirements have slowed, even amid a nationwide solar energy boom.

Fossil Fuel Plants Ordered To Stay Open

The third research paper-- Fossil Fuel Power Plants Are Staying Online Longer--  shows how much harmful air and toxic pollution these extended-life, dirty facilities emit. 

Since the data center boom is keeping some old, dirty power plants that were set to retire online for years longer than planned, it’s resulting in more air pollution that threatens our health.

Impacts Of Dirty Backup Generators

The fourth study-- False Emergencies, Real Pollution-- looks at the use of dirty diesel generators at data centers. 

Data centers are often proposing to use backup generators powered by dirty diesel fuel. 

The report looks at the potential massive amount of air pollution and environmental harm that may be created due to this expansive build out of diesel generators at data centers around the country. 

Visit the PennEnvironment website for more information on data centers and other environmental and energy issues.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA House Passes Legislation Authorizing Virtual Power Plants To Use Existing Energy Resources More Effectively, Address Grid Reliability, Rising Energy Bills; 16 House Energy Bills Now In Senate  [PaEN]  

-- House Committee OKs Bills To Add Energy Storage To Grid To Improve Reliability; Add Conditions For Receiving State Data Center Tax Credit; Speed Connection Of Clean Energy Generation To Grid To Help Reduce Energy Costs  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Issues 4th Hot Weather Alert Of Season For June 18 In Mid-Atlantic, Southern Regions  [PaEN] 

-- First United Presbyterian Church Of Crafton Heights In Pittsburgh Cut Energy Bills By More Than 2/3, Now Invests More In People, The Community  [PaEN] 

-- PennDOT Now Accepting Applications For National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grants In Western And Southeast PA; June 25 Webinar For Western Applicants  [PaEN]

-- Allegheny County To Host June 24 Virtual Meeting Inviting Public Input On The County's First-Ever Climate Action Plan  [PaEN]  

NewsClips:

-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race 

-- PennLive: As PA Data Center Development Surges, PA House Fast-Tracks Bills To Address It [Not Senate] 

-- The Center Square: Republican Senators Ward, Yaw Say State Losing Out Because Of Shapiro-Backed Price Caps On Electricity Prices   [But Yaw Asked FERC In March To Require PJM To Keep Charging PA Ratepayers The Same Record High Rates ]

-- The Guardian: How The Fight Over US A.I. Data Centers Is Scrambling Pennsylvania’s Politics: ‘We Don’t Want It’

-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: President Wants PJM To Give The Gas Industry A Multibillion Gift To Supply Power To A.I. Data Centers In Upcoming Power Auction - By Tom Rutigliano  

-- AP: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Backs President’s Plan To Speed Power To Energy-Hungry A.I. Data Centers 

-- FERC Release: FERC Orders Regional Grid Operators To Justify Or Reform Tariffs For Data Centers To Speed Large Load Integration 

-- TribLive: Assistance Available As Electric Bill Costs Rise Faster Than Inflation Rate 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Energy Energy Storage Company Starts Production At 2nd Facility In Pittsburgh Area

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Energy Energy Storage Company Secures Exclusive Distributor For Germany, Austria, Switzerland 

-- AP: President’s Administrations Buys Back 4 Invenergy Wind Energy Projects For $765 Million, Will Invest In Natural Gas, Geothermal Ventures Instead

-- Inside Climate News: President’s Administration Abandons Fight Against Wind Energy As Much Needed Clean Energy Output Surges  

[Posted: June 19, 2026]  PA Environment Digest