let data centers pollute without limit

The summer of 2026 started strong with the first extreme heat wave. We have talked about the heat in Spain and throughout Europebut in the United States they have not been spared either of the consequences. With the air conditioners working at full capacity In homes, the electrical grid is strained and the Secretary of Energy made a decision that directly affects data centers.

Activate your generators. The heat wave reached its peak last week and mainly hit the US East Coast. Given this situation, the secretary of energy Chris Wright asked data centers and other large customers to begin using their backup generators, which are normally idle. The objective of this measure is to relieve pressure on the electrical grid, which has experienced an increase in demand caused by high temperatures that have touched 40 degrees in many states.

Why is it important. The order demonstrates how data centers are impacting the US power supply, especially in the mid-Atlantic area, where it is concentrated the largest number of data centers in the world. According to Data Center Map dataIn the United States there are more than 4,300 data centers and in Virginia alone there are 637. In other affected states there is also a high concentration: 133 in New York, 133 in Pennsylvania, 93 in North Carolina, 67 in New Jersey, 53 in Maryland and 42 in Massachusetts.

Air quality. The biggest loser with this measure is the environment. We are talking about diesel and natural gas generators that emit pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and generate suspended particles. The use of these types of generators is limited by their effects on air quality, e.g. In Texas only its use is authorized provided that “the operating time does not exceed 10% of the annual operation of the main power source.”

According to a Washington Post analysisin the state of Virginia there are at least 10,500 diesel generators installed. It is estimated that just using them for one hour a week has a health impact equivalent to that of five large gas plants combined and is associated with thousands of asthma episodes each year.

Regulatory exception. The Department of Energy already had these limitations and In their directive they authorize connect these generators “without prejudice to air quality limitations.” It is a temporary decision designed to protect the stability of the network and the thermal comfort of millions of homes, but it does not come for free. The order sets an uncomfortable precedent: if environmental regulations are turned off every time there is extreme stress on the grid, the exception may end up becoming the new normal.

Without batteries. The manager that offers supply in the area is PJM and last week it surpassed the demand record that occurred two decades ago. As they say in the New York TimesPJM does not have an extensive battery system that allows them to store energy to be used in situations like this. In other states such as California or Texas they do have this type of systems, which allows them to face heat waves or frosts without having to resort to measures of this type.

Image | Generac

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