But this proposed data center is so big, it would have its own dedicated energy from gas generation and renewable sources
Very unfortunate, as this could have been an opportunity to advance the green power agenda. Solar, wind, and nuclear are all more efficient than fossil fuels – so why build new fossil fuel plants?
Because solar and wind plants, while they can be cheap and relatively fast to build, are not as reliable as a datacenter need and it is not predictable, so at most they can supplement some other generation method, in this scenario. Then ok, you probably need less fossil fuel (but gas is not necessary fossil these days).
And a nuclear plant is probably way longer to build than the datacenter itself, if you ever get the green light to build it.
Very unfortunate, as this could have been an opportunity to advance the green power agenda. Solar, wind, and nuclear are all more efficient than fossil fuels – so why build new fossil fuel plants?
Because solar and wind plants, while they can be cheap and relatively fast to build, are not as reliable as a datacenter need and it is not predictable, so at most they can supplement some other generation method, in this scenario. Then ok, you probably need less fossil fuel (but gas is not necessary fossil these days).
And a nuclear plant is probably way longer to build than the datacenter itself, if you ever get the green light to build it.
Batteries exist.
keepin my fingers crossed for nuclear. 🤞