Data Centers Fueling AI and Crypto Strain Western Power and Water Supplies

Data centers fueling AI and crypto strain Western power and water supplies

Developers are rushing to build massive data centers in the arid West, driving up electricity and water use and prompting debate over who should bear the costs and environmental toll.Jonathan Thompson reports for High Country News.In short:The International Energy Agency projects data center electricity and water demand will double by 2030, driven by AI and cryptocurrency operations.Google, Meta and Microsoft facilities already consume billions …

Google’s Power Grab: How AI Data Centers Are Quietly Prioritized Over Ratepayers

Readers will recall we have been beating the drum about Big Tech data centers for years now. That trend just accelerated big time with AI data center construction. Because these AI data centers need constant baseline electricity, the trend in Silicon Valley is to buy exclusive rights to electricity output from regional generating entities. This doesn’t mean that the utility drops a power line that connects directly to the AI data center–yet–but …

Texas AI Data centers water consumption: Texas AI centers guzzle 463 million gallons, now residents are asked to cut back on showers

Texas AI data centers water usage: As Texas faces a severe drought, the state's AI data centers consume millions of gallons of water daily for cooling, raising concerns about environmental sustainability. Residents are urged to conserve water while these centers operate extensively, prompting a call to action regarding water usage policies.

AI Data Centers in Texas Used 463 Million Gallons of Water, Residents Told to Take Shorter Showers - Techie + Gamers

Texas has long been defined by oil, heat, and huge infrastructure projects. Now, it’s also at the center of a growing environmental debate. Microsoft’s Stargate campus in Abilene is leading a data center boom that is drawing concern over water use, right in the middle of a prolonged drought. According to a July 2025 investigation by The Austin Chronicle, data centers across Central Texas are consuming millions of gallons of water every day. This…