Amazon and Nvidia recently addressed a gathering of oil and gas industry leaders, highlighting that all energy options, including fossil fuels like natural gas, are being considered to power artificial intelligence (AI). This meeting, held at the Hamm Institute for American Energy in Oklahoma City, focused on how the U.S. can meet the growing energy demands of AI data centers.
Despite significant investments in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions, tech giants are acknowledging the short-term necessity of natural gas for AI energy needs. Kevin Miller, Amazon's Vice President of Global Data Centers, emphasized a "full-spectrum" energy strategy to meet immediate demands while maintaining a focus on carbon reduction. Amazon is investing in advanced nuclear energy and carbon capture technologies, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Nvidia's Senior Director of Corporate Sustainability, Josh Park, echoed the need for diverse energy sources given AI's energy challenges. Anthropic, an AI company, estimates an additional 50 gigawatts of power will be needed by 2027, equivalent to about 50 nuclear reactors. While coal was mentioned due to recent political developments, it was not favored as a primary energy source by the tech leaders.
