A Bloomberg columnist argues that AI's environmental damage is already happening, not just a future risk. The piece points to EPA rollbacks under the Trump administration that allow fossil fuel plants to emit more carbon, partly to meet surging electricity demand from AI data centers. The 60 largest U.S. data centers under construction could add 101.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, like putting 24 million gas cars on the road. Beyond emissions, the article highlights water and chemical pollution. Examples include a diesel spill at an Equinix data center in New Jersey and PFAS use in cooling and fire suppression. The columnist criticizes weak oversight and calls for state and local action to curb data center environmental harm. For readers tracking climate policy and grid impacts, this piece connects AI expansion to concrete environmental costs.
