U.S. Acknowledges Health Risks of Data Centers in New Executive Order

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In a recent executive order, President Joe Biden recognized the public health impacts linked to data centers, specifically their contribution to air pollution and cancer risks. The order, titled "Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure," restricts new data center construction in areas with high cancer risk, focusing on locations that adhere to National Ambient Air Quality Standards, as stated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The move comes as the demand for data centers surges amid the rise of artificial intelligence, with projections indicating that these facilities could exceed emissions from California's entire vehicle fleet by 2028 if unchecked, according to the Department of Energy.

Experts, including Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside, highlight the potential health costs associated with AI-related pollution, estimating between $17 billion and $29 billion in health expenses from 2019 to 2023. Despite these concerns, the current administration has not revoked Biden’s order, signaling an ongoing commitment to addressing health and environmental impacts.

The order aims to strategically position data centers to minimize their public health effects, prioritizing energy-intensive operations in less populated areas to reduce health risks to communities.

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