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VoltsA newsletter, podcast, & community focused on the technology, politics, and policy of decarbonization. In your inbox once or twice a week. Author: David Roberts
Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!) www.volts.wtf Language: en Genres: News, Politics, Tech News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The (climate) case against (AI) data centers
Friday, 30 October, 2026
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.volts.wtfVolts guests have argued that data centers can be good for the grid if they’re built right. Here I hear the case against, from Ketan Joshi, a former wind-industry analyst who now tracks Big Tech’s climate claims. He sees data centers as the wrong kind of demand growth: lumpy, concentrated, unwanted by neighbors, and largely met with gas. Underneath it all is the worry that the backlash against data centers will become a backlash against electrification itself.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction02:14 – How Ketan became a big tech critic06:01 – The case against data centers07:39 – What data centers add to emissions11:57 – Isn’t more electricity demand good?20:12 – Backlash and the NEXTDC power-pole protest24:21 – AI claims 1: will AI help the climate?27:53 – AI claims 2: machine learning vs. generative AI33:47 – AI claims 3: inflated climate wins36:51 – The gas rush: how much gets built?44:49 – Would easier renewables fix it?49:14 – Can data centers be flexible load?55:41 – Do we actually want AI data centers?59:39 – What should data centers do to plug in?1:05:31 – Fake crackdowns and the risk to renewables1:09:24 – What if AI is a bubble?
