What U.S. state has the most data centers?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain, the information provided and any links below:
Data centers are large buildings that house rows of computer servers, data storage systems and networking equipment, as well as the power and cooling systems that keep them running. This infrastructure is essential for companies that provide digital services. Whenever you send an email, stream your favorite TV show, save a family photo to “the cloud” or ask a chatbot a question, you’re interacting with a data center. According to the data from the visual above, what U.S. state has the most data centers?
The U.S. has over 4,000 data centers with one third of U.S. data centers in just three states: Virginia (643), Texas (395) and California (319). According to the data from the visual above, roughly how many data centers does your state have?
While data centers have been around for decades, they’ve quickly expanded in recent years to support increasingly popular generative AI models. Why do you think we have so many data centers in the U.S.?
Total annual U.S. electricity consumption hit a record high in 2024, and that ceiling could rise if data centers continue expanding at their current pace. According to the data from the visual below, how much has U.S. total electrical consumption risen since 2020?*
U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, more than 4% of the country’s total electricity consumption last year – roughly equivalent to the annual electricity demand of the entire nation of Pakistan. According to the data from the visual below, how much is U.S. total electrical consumption predicted to rise by 2030?*
Since data centers are often geographically concentrated, they can significantly strain the power grids. In 2023, data centers consumed about 26% of the total electricity supply in Virginia and significant shares of the supply in North Dakota (15%), Nebraska (12%), Iowa (11%) and Oregon (11%), according to the Electric Power Research Institute. As tech companies build data centers worldwide to advance artificial intelligence, vulnerable communities have been hit by blackouts and water shortages. Increased data center power usage has also led to increased energy rates. According to the visual below, how much has the cost of energy risen in the U.S. in the past decade*?
Americans may see more widespread price hikes in coming years. One study from Carnegie Mellon University estimates that data centers and cryptocurrency mining could lead to an 8% increase in the average U.S. electricity bill by 2030, potentially exceeding 25% in the highest-demand markets of central and northern Virginia. Do you think the average American is willing to pay more for electricity in order to finance increased AI?
In addition to consuming great amounts of electricity, data centers’ cooling systems often require a large amount of water. In 2023, the country’s data centers directly consumed about 17 billion gallons of water. But massive U.S. water increases are projected and by 2028, AI in the U.S. could consume as much as 720 billion gallons of water annually just for cooling, which is enough to meet the indoor needs of 18.5 million households, This has already led to water shortages in various parts of the country. As water usage continues. where will that water come from and do you think AI or human water use will be prioritized?
Lawmakers and utility companies have faced pressure in some states to protect residents from blackouts and higher electricity bills as U.S. data centers expand their footprint. Currently, there is no federal registration requirement for data centers and very few laws regulating their operation. Do you think there should be national legislation to address data centers, and do you think it is likely the current U.S. Congress will pass legislation addressing data centers?
In the past five years, $64 billion in U.S. data center projects have been blocked or delayed by a growing wave of local, bipartisan opposition. What was once quiet infrastructure is now a national flashpoint — and communities are pushing back. If you were a politician, would you vote to allow the building of new data centers in your community?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Read more about cancelled data center projects nationwide. Create your own pro or anti-data center grassroots organization in your community. For extra credit contact me if you want to get involved in a national group of students concerned about the expansion of data centers.
Get Creative
Just think: every time you ask AI a question you are using a lot of water and energy. What is the best thing you have ever done with AI and do you think it is worth the environmental cost. Make a creative response to grapple with this issue. Such as this:
CON
(Verse 1)
In the digital age, a silent hum,
Data centers rise, where shadows become.
Consuming power, a thirst so deep,
While nature's balance, we fail to keep.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Dimming our stars, stealing our light.
For every click and every stream,
A hidden cost, a fading dream.
(Verse 2)
Servers humming, a constant drone,
Cooling systems, a heavy moan.
Water diverted, from rivers and lakes,
For virtual worlds, our planet aches.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Dimming our stars, stealing our light.
For every click and every stream,
A hidden cost, a fading dream.
(Bridge)
From the cloud above, to the ground below,
The carbon footprint, continues to grow.
E-waste mountains, a toxic tide,
Where old technology, goes to hide.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Dimming our stars, stealing our light.
For every click and every stream,
A hidden cost, a fading dream.
(Outro)
Let's seek a future, green and bright,
Innovate with purpose, and do what's right.
For a sustainable world, we must strive,
Before our digital dreams, we can't revive.
PRO
(Verse 1)
In realms unseen, where data gleams,
A silent force, fulfilling dreams.
The digital heart, with pulse so strong,
Where information truly belongs.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Guiding our world, with digital light.
For every thought and every quest,
You stand so true, putting us to the test.
(Verse 2)
Through fiber veins, the currents flow,
A symphony of knowledge, helping us grow.
With cooling breezes, a gentle hum,
Innovations born, for all to become.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Guiding our world, with digital light.
For every thought and every quest,
You stand so true, putting us to the test.
(Bridge)
From cloud above, to screens we see,
A tapestry woven, for you and me.
With tireless grace, you hold the key,
Unlocking futures, wild and free.
(Chorus)
Oh, data centers, towers of might,
Guiding our world, with digital light.
For every thought and every quest,
You stand so true, putting us to the test.
(Outro)
So here's to you, in circuits bright,
Our digital guardians, day and night.
For all you offer, and all you do,
Our modern world, depends on you.
Learn more*
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