AI Boom Chokes East Asia: Data Centers Guzzle Power, Pollute Air
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is creating a hidden crisis in East Asia, as massive data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity—much of it from coal-fired plants—worsening air quality and threatening public health [176587].
The surge in AI development is driving an explosion in data center construction across East Asia, particularly in Japan, South Korea, and parts of China. These facilities run thousands of servers around the clock to power new AI tools, placing a constant, heavy draw on local power grids [176587]. Because renewable energy sources in the region cannot keep pace with AI’s energy demands, much of the electricity comes from coal-fired plants, which release pollutants like fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides [176587]. In cities near these data centers, residents are breathing in more of these pollutants, which are linked to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and premature deaths [176587].
Local governments face a difficult choice between attracting AI investment and jobs versus protecting public health [176587]. The problem is compounded by broader supply chain pressures: the AI boom is also driving up costs for critical components like computer chips, with Apple’s outgoing CEO Tim Cook confirming that rising chip costs will lead to price increases on some products [176551]. Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered grid operators to create a fast lane for data centers seeking to connect to the power grid, but the order does not address the underlying shortage of electricity supply needed to meet their massive demand [176789].