The rising energy demands of artificial intelligence are worrying New York lawmakers, who fear the technology could undermine the state’s climate goals, according to The Times Union.
Processing a ChatGPT request consumes 10 times more electricity than a simple Google search. Data centers, which power AI, consumed 4% of the U.S.’s energy in 2023, a figure that could rise to 9% by 2030.
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez is introducing the “New York State Sustainable Data Centers Act,” which would require data centers to align with the state’s renewable energy targets.
The bill mandates annual reports on water and energy use, limits new site construction, and requires public hearings and community energy cost subsidies.
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