News Tech, 24 December, 2025: AI data centers’ massive electricity needs are forcing old “peaker” power plants back online across the U.S., especially in strained grids. These backup facilities emit more pollution than regular plants and cluster in low-income, minority neighborhoods, worsening air quality where it’s already poor.
What Peakers Are and Why They’re Restarting
Peaker plants run gas or oil for short bursts during high demand, like heatwaves, making up 3% of normal U.S. power but up to 19% at peak. AI centers—each pulling 100+ MW—overwhelm grids like PJM Interconnection (13 states from Illinois to New Jersey), spiking prices 800% since last summer. Companies like NRG Energy withdrew retirement plans for idled plants to meet demand.
Key Locations: Chicago’s Frontline
Chicago’s Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods bear the brunt. NRG’s Fisk plant in Pilsen, after closing its coal unit in 2012, now fires petroleum peakers more often, emitting 2-25 tons of sulfur dioxide yearly despite low chimneys trapping smog locally. Little Village’s Crawford plant faces similar revival. These industrial zones sit amid low-income Latino communities with high asthma rates from diesel trucks and factories.
Higher Pollution and Health Risks
Peakers lack modern scrubbers, emitting 1.6x more sulfur dioxide, plus nitrogen oxides, particulates, and CO2 per electricity unit than baseload plants. This fuels smog, respiratory issues, and premature deaths. GAO reports 1,000 U.S. peakers disproportionately hit communities of color; Pilsen advocates like Jerry Mead-Lucero decry “cumulative impact” from multiple polluters.
Grid Strain and National Spread
PJM’s Jeff Shields warns of shortages without all plants. Similar pressures hit Midwest grids; hyperscalers like AWS and Google seek nuclear, but peakers plug gaps now. AI demand may rise 165% by 2030, needing $720B upgrades. Congress probes via GAO for efficiency, batteries, or renewables as fixes. Trump administration eyes looser rules to keep them running.
