A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research reveals that the rapid expansion of data centers carries significant public health costs. Analyzing 2,800 facilities, Carnegie Mellon economist Nicholas Muller found that the electricity required to power AI models generates substantial air pollution and greenhouse gases. These impacts, including risks of premature mortality for local residents, are estimated to cost the economy $25 billion annually. The findings quantify the social cost of carbon and the health trade-offs of grid demand. Read the full story at Fortune (subscription).
Source · Fortune
