As North Carolina races to land more data centers tied to the artificial intelligence boom, new research suggests another possible environmental tradeoff: hotter temperatures near the massive facilities.<\/p>\n
A new preprint study<\/a> led by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that large AI-focused data centers may create localized \u201cheat islands,\u201d with land surface temperatures rising an average of about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, after facilities begin operating. In some cases, researchers found increases as high as 16 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n The researchers analyzed satellite land surface temperature data from 2004 to 2024 and compared it with the locations of thousands of data centers around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cOur study shows a non-negligible and rather remarkable impact of the AI data centres on their local regions,\u201d the authors wrote in the paper\u2019s conclusion.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy it matters in North Carolina<\/p>\n North Carolina has become a growing target for major data center development, with projects announced or proposed in places including Richmond County and Person County.<\/p>\n The state has more than 40 operating data centers, with dozens more announced or under construction. Planned and active capacity could grow from roughly 3 gigawatts to nearly 6 gigawatts over the next decade, according to Duke Energy.<\/p>\n That growth has also triggered backlash in some communities. In recent weeks, Orange County approved a one-year moratorium on data centers, while Apex, Wendell, Chatham County and other local governments have paused or reconsidered projects as officials study impacts tied to land use, infrastructure and quality of life.<\/p>\n These facilities can require enormous amounts of electricity to run servers around the clock and to power cooling systems that prevent overheating. State leaders have increasingly pointed to the opportunities they may bring through jobs, tax base growth and economic development.<\/p>\n Amazon last year broke ground on a planned $10 billion, 20-building data center campus in Richmond County, one of the largest announced economic development projects in the state.<\/p>\n The new study raises questions about whether communities should also consider localized heat impacts, especially in a warming state already dealing with hotter summers and urban heat concerns.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tUrban heat islands already impact NC communities.<\/p>\n Urban heat islands happen when roads, rooftops, parking lots and buildings absorb and hold heat, making developed areas significantly warmer than places with trees, grass and shade. The effect can be strongest in fast-growing communities where pavement and construction replace natural land cover.<\/p>\n That can worsen heat stress, raise cooling bills, strain power grids and increase health risks, especially for older adults, outdoor workers and neighborhoods with less tree canopy.<\/p>\n Raleigh has already been studying its own heat island problem.<\/p>\n