A Queensland Government push to allow data centres to expand without renewable energy requirements would raise wholesale power prices by 14 per cent.
The Climate Council 'Clouded Future' report shows that without appropriate requirements for data centres to power their growth with renewable energy, wholesale power prices will rise by up to 26 per cent in NSW, 23 per cent in Victoria and 14 per cent in Queensland by 2035.
The report also shows that without intervention, data centre electricity demand will raise climate pollution levels, putting Queenslanders and other Australians already facing the devastating impacts of worsening floods, fires and extreme weather events at further risk.
A push by the Queensland Government to abandon a call by all other state and federal energy ministers for national regulation of renewable energy requirements for the data centres boom would fuel rising energy prices and climate risks.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said:
"In the US unchecked data centre growth has led to massive spikes in power prices and damage to public water resources. Queensland has the opportunity to do things differently. Requiring big tech to build new renewable power protects the reliability and affordability of our grid.
"The big risk for Queensland consumers is that data centres get a free ride and power prices spike, and pollution increases.
"Putting the community first means requiring data centres to build new renewable energy and protect our water resources."
