百万民众在暴风雪中遭遇停电，邻近数据中心却在消耗大量电力

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of winter storm "Furn" on the energy supply in the southeastern United States, highlighting the urgent need for cleaner energy solutions for data centers to ensure reliable power supply during extreme weather events [1][4]. Group 1: Energy Demand and Supply Challenges - The winter storm "Furn" caused over a million people to lose power, primarily affecting the southeastern U.S. [1] - The demand for electricity surged beyond average levels, prompting PJM to seek federal approval to increase power generation, even at the cost of burning high-pollution fuels [1][4]. - Data centers are significantly contributing to the increased electricity demand, with projections indicating that their energy consumption will rise from 4.4% of the national total in 2023 to between 6.7% and 12% by 2028 [4]. Group 2: Regulatory and Community Concerns - There is public concern regarding the rising electricity costs due to the competition for power resources among data centers, which may also worsen air quality and exacerbate climate issues [4]. - Local regulations and proposed federal legislation aim to protect residents from rising electricity prices and require data centers to bear the costs of necessary power infrastructure [4]. Group 3: Demand Response and Energy Flexibility - Data centers have been historically uncertain about their willingness to reduce power consumption during emergencies, but the rise in AI-related energy demands is pushing operators to consider participating in demand response programs [5][6]. - A study suggests that if data centers commit to flexible energy use, the grid could gain an additional 100 GW of capacity, sufficient to power approximately 70 million households [7]. Group 4: Alternative Solutions and Future Outlook - The article emphasizes the need for data centers to explore distributed energy solutions to alleviate grid pressure, which could help stabilize energy prices and reduce environmental impacts [8]. - The integration of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and battery storage, is highlighted as a key strategy for ensuring power supply during extreme weather events [7][8].