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Data Center Boom Powers Massive Investment, Energy Use and Health Risks
Global demand for artificial‑intelligence computing is spurring a rapid expansion of data centre capacity. BloombergNEF projects U.S. installed data‑centre capacity to reach 118 GW by 2030 and 194 GW by 2035, driven by a 101 GW pipeline increase since late 2025. The U.S. Energy Information Administration warns that electricity consumption by data‑centre servers could rise to 818 billion kWh by 2050, pushing data‑centre share of commercial power from 7 % today to up to 33 %.
Data‑centre construction is also becoming an economic engine. In the United States, new data‑centre projects added roughly $60 billion to GDP in 2025, accounting for about 2.3 % of total construction spending. Gartner’s latest IT‑spending forecast shows worldwide IT outlays reaching $6.37 trillion in 2026, with data‑centre systems and infrastructure‑as‑a‑service leading the growth.
In India, investors anticipate a four‑fold rise in AI‑focused data‑centre capacity, from about 1.5 GW today to 6.5 GW by 2030, backed by Brookfield Asset Management’s $11 billion joint venture with Reliance Industries and Digital Realty. An OmniScience Capital report estimates the Indian AI data‑centre build‑out could require $350‑435 billion of cumulative investment and consume 150‑170 TWh of electricity annually.
The expansion carries environmental and health concerns. Over 5,500 U.S. data centres, many powered by natural‑gas and coal plants, emit particulate matter that has been linked to premature deaths and water‑quality impacts in nearby communities.
Entities
BloombergNEF · Brookfield Asset Management · Gartner · IndiaAI Mission · John‑David Lovelock · Loudoun County, Virginia · Meta · Microsoft · United States · Wyoming
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Building India’s AI data‑centre capacity could require $350‑435 billion of investment by 2030. morungexpress.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. data‑centre server electricity consumption could reach 818 billion kWh by 2050. www.electricaltechnology.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. installed data‑centre capacity is forecast to reach 118 GW by 2030. about.bnef.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. installed data‑centre capacity is forecast to reach 194 GW by 2035. about.bnef.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Data‑centre construction added roughly $60 billion to U.S. GDP in 2025. www.theblaze.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Over 5,500 U.S. data centres, many powered by natural‑gas and coal, emit particulate matter linked to health impacts. www.eesi.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Global IT spending is projected to reach $6.37 trillion in 2026, with data‑centre systems leading growth. it-online.co.za
- [○ 1 SOURCE] India’s AI‑focused data‑centre capacity is expected to reach 6.5 GW by 2030. cryptobriefing.com