Cloud Carrier's Data Center Plan Sparks Debate

0:00In Adelaide, it's March 4th, and here's what is going on. A company called Cloud Carrier wants to build three data centers and a 700 megawatt gas-fired power station near the small town of Mossville in New South Wales Southern Highlands. The setup would use 21 engines to generate enough electricity for 70,000 homes, powering the huge energy needs of AI processing, right on site. They already have one small data center running there and aim to finish the full campus in five to eight years. Company leaders say grid power in the area can't handle the demand from high-capacity AI chips, so natural gas from pipelines is the reliable choice. For now, they plan to switch to renewable fuels later and will recycle water harvested on site for cooling without using town supplies. Experts have mixed views on this. AI professor Toby Walsh from the University of New South Wales says we need data centers on shore to keep sensitive data secure, but they must roll out. Responsibly to avoid massive electricity and water use.

1:03Energy director Ty Christopher warns that burning gas on site slows Australia's path to net zero since it's still a fossil fuel. New South Wales already has 90 data centers operating with dozens more in the works as the state chases investment in the AI boom. A RISO report predicts data centers could eat up 11 percent of the nation's energy by 2035 and boost emissions by 14 percent. Meanwhile, locals in Mossvale are pushing back mainly against the gas plan, fearing it sets a bad precedent. Wean care be shire council is waiting for details and a state upper house inquiry starts hearings in May to check data center's impacts on the fill. Environment and communities. The project is early in planning with no environmental statement yet. Appreciation to our sponsor for backing this episode know need. Switch positions. The sound is already where your head is. SOсли tonight pillow com. GONZO PI solely pillow com comÚ lobster c Child.

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