The AI era is reviving the fracking industry, as companies set up massive data centers near gas production sites, raising environmental and social concerns. A recent Wall Street Journal report highlighted Poolside’s ambitious Horizon project in West Texas, which will utilize natural gas from the Permian Basin for power, producing 2 gigawatts of computing capacity—equivalent to Hoover Dam. Many AI firms, including Microsoft and OpenAI, are adopting a similar approach, often overlooked by the public amid a focus on AI’s healthcare benefits.
Local residents face disruption, environmental worries, and water scarcity in drought-prone areas. Critics argue that new infrastructure primarily bolsters fossil fuel reliance instead of exploring cleaner energy alternatives. Socioeconomic implications loom large, as regional populations contend with potential long-term environmental degradation, all while tech firms stress the urgency of competing globally. With utility capacity often underutilized, there’s potential for significant energy optimization without new gas plants, shifting focus towards sustainable energy solutions.
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