Climate goals go up in smoke as US datacenters turn to coal

US datacenters are increasingly turning to coal as a power source due to high natural gas prices and growing electricity demand, leading to a spike in coal generation. This shift poses a threat to climate goals as coal is the dirtiest fuel source. The rise in energy demand from data centers has prompted power companies to reverse plans to stop burning coal, impacting local air quality and global greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the potential for renewable energy to power data centers at a lower cost, current federal policies and the prioritization of meeting energy demands for AI technology are hindering progress towards cleaner energy sources.