Data Centers Could Spike US Power Emissions 42% by 2030, Sierra Club Warns

The rapid expansion of data centers could drive US power sector carbon dioxide emissions up by 42% by 2030 compared to 2025 levels, according to a new Sierra Club analysis. This surge would essentially erase 15 years of progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. The report highlights how the tech industry's growing demand for always-on computing is pushing utilities to build more fossil fuel plants, particularly natural gas, reversing a long downward trend in power sector pollution. Key players include major data center operators and utilities across the country, though the analysis focuses on the national impact. The findings matter because the US has been cutting power emissions through coal retirements and renewable growth, but the AI and cloud computing boom now threatens that trajectory. If the projected increase occurs, it would undermine climate goals and public health protections. The Sierra Club calls for stronger policies to ensure data center growth is powered by clean energy rather than new gas infrastructure. The next few years will be critical in determining whether the digital economy accelerates or slows the clean energy transition.