Rising data center demand drives increased generation from Illinois’ remaining in-state gas and coal plants, which will lead to an increase in air and climate pollution. According to analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), because data center load growth results in more air pollution and heat-trapping emissions from fossil fuel power plants, health costs and climate damages also increase. UCS analysis predicts data center load growth would be responsible for up to $2.07 billion more in health costs and up to $124 billion more in climate damages.
In addition, because data centers need a constant and reliable power supply, many facilities rely on diesel generators for emergency back-up power. Diesel-fueled back-up generators release harmful air pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are linked to respiratory disease, heart disease, asthma, and other serious health risks. In addition to contributing to health-harming air pollution, back-up diesel generators create a lot of noise. Residents in Aurora, Illinois reported that the CyrusOne data center in their neighborhood already creates constant noise, and when the back-up diesel generators are turned on, it creates an “even louder cacophony of noise.”
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