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ARTICLE · 22 OCTOBER 2024

Data Centers, AI, And Decarbonization: Congressional Interest In Powering Clean Innovation

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A common assumption among artificial intelligence (AI) optimists is that exponential growth of AI technology is limited only by the available computing resources.

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
David J.M. Skillman
David J.M. Skillman
Ethan Shenkman
Ethan Shenkman
Sandra Rizzo
Sandra Rizzo
Emily Orler
Emily Orler
Lucas Gorak
Lucas Gorak
Paul J. Waters
Paul J. Waters
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A common assumption among artificial intelligence (AI) optimists is that exponential growth of AI technology is limited only by the available computing resources. That is not the case. Rather, a significant constraint is the ability to meet the substantial electricity needs of such resources, while satisfying the need to maintain reliability and interest in prioritizing clean electricity resources for this energy-intensive technology. This Blog provides an overview of factors policymakers are weighing as they consider the possibility of regulating the power consumption of AI models and the data centers that house them.

Datacenters and Decarbonization Fuel Energy Demand Growth, Policy Interest

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