A brewing federal-state power struggle is set to intensify as Queensland and the Northern Territory reject the federal government's plans to mandate renewable energy use in AI datacentres. The decision comes as the economic rating agency S&P Global warns that power consumption from datacentres could surge to 10% of Australia's total energy usage by 2035, a five-fold increase from current levels. This alarming prediction raises concerns that a mismatch between the rapid growth of datacentre demand and the development of renewable energy projects could lead to skyrocketing electricity bills for Australian households and businesses. As the debate over energy policy continues to heat up, the federal government will need to navigate the complex web of state and federal interests to ensure a sustainable energy future for the country.
Federal-state stoush comes as rating agency warns that electricity bills could skyrocketFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government’s plans to mandate that AI datacentres use renewable power, rubbishing Anthony Albanese’s proposals to regulate the booming technology as “underdeveloped ideas that hand increased power to Canberra”.The latest federal-state stoush on energy comes as S&P Global, the economic rating agency, warns that power use from datacentres could rise five-fold by 2035 to 10% of Australia’s total consumption, and that a mismatch between delivery timelines for datacentres and renewable projects could lead to energy bills skyrocketing. Continue reading...
