Will AI data centre construction be used to justify dirty energy?
Data centres’ huge energy use means they risk prolonging the life of dirty energy projects when we need to transition to clean, green renewable energy.
This is why Global Action Plan today joined campaigners outside the AGM of Drax, the corporation that burns trees (“biomass”) to produce electricity in its North Yorkshire power station - the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions.
Drax faces an uncertain future, so it wants to build and power a data centre nearby to justify its continued existence.
Oliver Hayes, Head of Campaigns at Global Action Plan speaks to campaigners outside Drax's AGM
Despite the government committing to phasing down Drax's role in our electricity grid, Drax hopes that the government’s drive to build AI hyperscale data centres might offer it a lifeline.
It has applied to be a part of a government AI growth zone. Drax hopes to benefit from political support aimed at data centres and be able to undermine previous government commitments to scale back Drax's use.
Drax is an example of a deeper problem with data centres. Their electricity demand is so huge that it would be impossible to build enough renewable energy to meet their demand whilst sticking to government targets to decarbonise our electricity.
That’s why we need the government to implement a moratorium on new data centres until there’s a proper framework in place. We can’t let the rush to build data centres prop-up dirty energy and undermine climate targets.
If enough of us raise our voices we can expose this alliance between dirty energy and big tech and end Drax’s polluting ways - finally stopping the harm it causes to forests, wildlife, communities and the climate.
Will you sign our petition to stop data centres propping up the dirty Drax power station?