Old jet engines scavenged to power AI data centers, polluting communities
techNov 3, 202653131
The New York Times reports that data center developers are stripping engines from retired 747s and converting them into onsite electrical generators, with some facilities reportedly running multiple salvaged jet engines around the clock in parking lots to meet urgent power needs. Repurposed aircraft turbines tend to be less efficient and more polluting than engines designed for conventional gas plants, and developers say speed, "How fast can you get me energy?", drives the choice because grid hookups can take years. Georgetown and Duke researchers argue batteries are a faster, cheaper, and cleaner alternative to meet AI data center power demand and to avoid stranded-asset risks. Utah State physicist Robert Davies estimated the Wonder Valley facility’s waste heat would equal "about 23 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs worth of energy every single day," a calculation cited in coverage of the controversy. Environmental and health concerns have intensified as critics point to continuous noise, emissions, and local livability impacts from 24/7 jet-engine operation. The reporting has already prompted calls for stricter oversight and renewed pressure on policymakers and developers to pursue battery-backed or grid-based solutions instead of scavenged jet-engine generators.
