HARC Projects Texas Data Center Growth Could Reverse Decades of Air Quality Gains

The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) published a report projecting that planned Texas data centers could erase decades of air quality gains within five years if all connect to the grid and use its anticipated electricity mix. Under that scenario, HARC projects power-sector soot emissions would more than triple, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions would rise 136 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions would climb 90 percent above 2025 levels. HARC modeled three projections for data center electricity demand, with pollution outcomes depending on demand and power sources. The report says NOx emissions could be up to 10 times lower if data centers combine grid power with renewable electricity generated onsite. Developers using onsite gas engines to avoid long waits for grid connections would produce the highest pollution levels among the modeled outcomes.

Generated by AI from reports · Updated 1 hours ago

There is not enough continuous observation data to plot a trend yet.