Cecilia Springer: U.S. Data Center Energy Demand and Emissions

US Data Center Energy Demand and Emissions

Title

Cecilia Springer: U.S. Data Center Energy Demand and Emissions

Time

November 24, 2025

6:00PM - 7:00PM ET

Venue

Online via Zoom. Please register to participate.

About

The rising demand for data processing and storage, driven by advancements in AI and large-scale computing, has raised concerns about the energy use and emissions profiles of new data centers in the U.S. and globally. With data centers in the U.S. rapidly expanding, their energy and emissions footprint will largely depend on the technologies and pathways adopted. Dr. Springer leads a report examines the geographical distribution, projected energy and emissions impacts, and state-level regulations affecting data center development, aiming to provide policymakers and stakeholders with insights to guide decisions on siting, construction, operations, and grid planning for low-carbon growth in computing demand. Dr. Springer will share her insights on the report.

Speaker

Bio

Dr. Cecilia Springer is a Principal at Global Efficiency Intelligence, LLC. She provides consulting and market research across GEI’s service areas. Dr. Springer has over 10 years of experience conducting technical research on energy policy and industrial decarbonization, with a regional focus on U.S., China, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Springer has published research on international benchmarking of the steel, cement, and aluminum industries, electrification of heating in industry, decarbonizing the textile industry, embodied carbon, green public procurement, and emerging energy efficiency technologies for various industrial subsectors. Dr. Springer is also the Co-director of the Industrial Electrification Center,

Before joining GEI, Dr. Springer was Assistant Director and Senior Academic Researcher at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, leading the Global China Initiative and conducting research on the energy and climate impacts of China’s overseas engagement. She was previously a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Dr. Springer received her Ph.D. in Energy and Resources at the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. in environmental science from Brown University. She is a research affiliate at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a non-resident fellow at Boston University.

Readings

Cecilia Springer and Ali Hasanbeigi. 2024. Data Centers in the AI Era: Energy and Emissions Impacts in the U.S. and Key States. Global Efficiency Intelligence, LLC.