Senior Official Warns State's Server Farm Plan Could Cost Lives

A senior official at Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection has warned that a state plan to promote server farms, also known as data centers, could lead to increased air pollution, illness, and fatalities, and cost the economy approximately 3 billion shekels annually. Shuli Nizar, Senior Deputy Director General for Environmental Licensing and Risk Prevention, stated in a letter obtained by N12 that the Electricity Authority's proposal to connect these facilities to the grid would dramatically increase pollutant emissions.

According to Nizar, the increased electricity demand from these server farms, which are crucial for running artificial intelligence models and can consume as much power as 40,000 homes, will also shorten the lifespan of Israel's natural gas reserves. This, she argues, will necessitate greater reliance on polluting coal-fired power plants. The Ministry estimates that by 2035, server farms could account for 20% of Israel's electricity consumption.

The Ministry projects that the plan could lead to a more than 10% rise in air pollutant emissions, contributing to an increase in mortality and morbidity. This is particularly concerning as it is estimated that air pollution already causes around 5,500 premature deaths annually in Israel. The economic damage from increased illness, deaths, and lost workdays is estimated at 2 billion shekels per year, with an additional billion shekels annually from backup generators.

Nizar also cautioned that the current plan could deplete Israel's natural gas reserves two to three years earlier than projected, forcing the use of older, more polluting power generation methods. The Ministry of Prime Minister's Office and the National AI Directorate are reportedly pushing for the establishment of these server farms, with proposals to designate them as national infrastructure.

While acknowledging the economic benefits of server farms, the Ministry of Environmental Protection insists that they must be required to use clean energy, such as through green certificates or funding new renewable energy facilities. The Ministry advocates for raising the renewable energy target for 2035 to 45% of total electricity production, compared to the Electricity Authority's proposed 35%. Environmental organizations are calling for a comprehensive review of the policy, arguing that Israeli citizens should not bear the health and quality of life costs for the profits of tech companies.