Bloomberg New Energy Finance now forecasts U.S. data center electricity demand reaching 194 gigawatts by 2035 — an 83 percent jump from their forecast just eight months earlier, driven by mega-projects entering the development pipeline. For perspective, that is roughly the output of 194 traditional nuclear reactors, or the power consumed by about 150 million homes.

Report · Environmental Protection Network

The Hidden Health Costs of AI Data Centers

As the national debate over AI data centers has focused on electricity demand, ratepayer costs, water use, and siting, one question has gotten far less attention: what will this buildout mean for Americans' health?

The report examines pollution from the power plants, generators, and other infrastructure needed to meet growing data center demand, and documents at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 that make a more polluting buildout more likely. These impacts do not stop at the data center fence line — in one national study, more than 90 percent of the modeled health burden came from power plants supplying data centers with electricity.

EPN is also calling for a Data Center Health Protection Pledge: if families should not have to pay for the AI boom through higher electric bills, the same principle should apply to their health.

“Beyond this launch, we'd also love to collaborate more closely with organizations working on data centers, power-sector pollution, clean energy, ratepayer protections, permitting, environmental justice, and community health. If there are opportunities for joint messaging, media, policy work, state or local engagement, or expert support, please reach out. We want this report to be a resource for the broader movement and would welcome ideas for how we can work together.”

Marc Boom

Senior Director of Public Affairs, Environmental Protection Network
marc.boom@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org