Shadow power grids: data centers run on private on-site plants
Silicon Valley’s AI-driven data centers are increasingly backed by on-site private energy plants (natural gas, solar, wind), creating a shadow power grid that draws power away from the public grid and could raise carbon emissions and local pollution. The GW Ranch project in West Texas exemplifies the scale, with warehouses consuming vast amounts of power and sparking concerns about environmental and community impacts and broader energy policy implications.
