AI & Enterprise

AI data centers in U.S. seen causing $25 billion a year in environmental damage costs

Environmental and health damage costs caused by data centers operating in the United States amount to $25 billion a year, a study found. The analysis links the rise in AI-driven data center expansion to higher electricity consumption and air pollution, feeding tensions with local communities. It estimates $3.7 billion of the costs are directly tied to AI use and says planned expansion could raise damages by up to 85 percent in the short term.

Games & Commerce

Naver to buy 30 percent stake in GS Wind Power, signs 25-year direct PPA

Naver said on Tuesday it will acquire a 30 percent stake in GS Wind Power and sign a direct renewable power purchase agreement. The deal is the first case in South Korea in which a RE100 member invests directly in a renewable power generation company to secure energy. The wind farm under construction in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province is to supply electricity to Naver’s Sejong and Chuncheon data centres from commercial operations starting in the first half of 2028.