The environmental impact of data centers
Data center expert Eric Masanet discusses what North Dakota communities should know about energy demand, water use, and the environmental impacts of proposed facilities.
In this episode of The Backstory, Sabrina Halvorson talks with Eric Masanet, a leading expert on the environmental impact of data centers who has spent about two decades studying data center energy use and has testified before Congress on the topic.
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Masanet explains how the growth of artificial intelligence is changing the scale of data centers and what their energy and water needs can mean for surrounding communities. Masanet is a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he researches data center sustainability.
“You want to understand the peaks, and you also want to understand...is that data center going to expand over time?” - Eric Masanet, professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
Masanet discusses how electricity sources, cooling systems, and local conditions shape a facility’s environmental footprint. He explains why North Dakota’s cold climate can offer cooling advantages and why using less water at a data center does not necessarily mean a smaller overall impact.
The conversation also explores the information communities need before making decisions about proposed facilities. Masanet outlines questions about power sources, water use, efficiency, and future expansion, along with ways data centers can support the grid and put their waste heat to use.
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The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state.
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