The Data Center Surge Has a Hidden Source of Carbon Emissions (Correct)

Data centers siphon huge amounts of energy to power artificial intelligence. But their environmental footprint starts to balloon even before the first server switches on due to the immense amount of carbon-intensive concrete needed to build them.

As the US data center buildout surges, with construction beginning on multibillion-dollar facilities from Texas to Wisconsin, tech companies are becoming buyers of low-carbon concrete.

Through 2030, data center expansion is expected to require 2 million metric tons of cement, the binding agent in concrete, according to environmental nonprofit RMI. If these facilities are constructed with traditional concrete, they could generate 1.9 million metric ...