HARC warns Texas data center growth risks more pollution
What happened
The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) published a report, reported on October 22, predicting that Texas data center growth could reverse decades of emissions progress by the end of this decade, with the impact depending heavily on how power is supplied. By 2031, statewide nitrogen oxide emissions could rise 35% even under a grid-connected "net zero" scenario with on-site wind and solar; with conventional on-site natural gas, the increase could approach 400%. The researchers recommend data centers follow industrial and power-generation emissions standards and disclose electricity use, energy sources and pollution, so communities can assess impacts before development decisions.
Written by AI from the coverage · updated 2 hours ago
Coverage
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- Hacker News front pageTexas data center boom could erase decades of progress on air quality
休斯敦先进研究中心的报告预测，得州数据中心扩张可能在本十年末逆转过去数十年的减排进展，影响程度高度取决于供电方式。到2031年，即使采用接入电网并在现场部署风能和太阳能的“净零”情景，全州氮氧化物排放仍可能增加35%；采用传统现场天然气供电的另一情景下，增幅可能接近400%。研究人员建议数据中心遵守工业与发电排放标准，并披露用电量、能源来源及污染排放，以便社区在开发决策前评估影响。
Heat over time
Heat now 9·Comparable peak 10（Oct 22 03:00）·Comparable change over 24 hours –
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