The struggle between AI and net-zero is becoming visible

In the early 2020s, data center operators began setting net-zero emissions goals. The majority now have target dates to eliminate — or at least offset — their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with many large operators, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Digital Realty and Equinix, fixing on 2030.

As that deadline approaches, meeting these goals is becoming more difficult. Rising demand for AI facilities is driving energy consumption much faster than anticipated. This surge, along with other factors, is straining electricity capacity and prompting some operators to generate prime power on-site — almost universally derived from fossil natural gas.