双语阅读 | 绿色人工智能(1)
数据中心的过度消耗可能导致当地能源与水资源争夺。美联社与NORC公共事务研究中心的一项联合调查显示，四成美国民众对人工智能的环境影响表示“极度”或“非常”担忧。那么，美国政府将如何应对人工智能数据中心的高资源需求及其环境后果？
Energy and water are at risk of data center overusage and could be competing with local communities for electricity and water. A polling from AP-NORC center for public affair research says that 4 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the environmental impacts of AI. How do authorities in the U.S. respond to the resource intensive demand and environmental impacts of AI data centers?
截至目前，美国针对数据中心环境影响的政策仍显零散。目前几乎不存在联邦层面的法规专门限制数据中心的能源或水资源消耗，市场力量与地方政府在其中发挥关键作用。中国在销售绿色技术方面的利润已超过美国销售化石燃料的利润，正将可再生能源技术“嵌入”其国家级数据中心项目之中。
U.S. policy toward data center environmental impacts has so far beenpiecemeal. There are largely no federal regulations specificallycappingdata centers' energy or water use; instead, market forces and local state authorities are playing the key roles. China, which now makes more profit selling green technology than America makes from selling fossil fuels, is “baking in” their renewable technologies into their national data center initiatives.
*piecemeal (adj.) 零碎的
*cap (v.) 限制
美国推动绿色人工智能主要采取自下而上的路径，依赖地方政府、公众参与及市场机制。
The U.S. environmental AI pushis largely from bottom-up – relying on local state, civic engagement, and market forces
近年来，各州提供的税收优惠吸引了大型科技企业将高科技岗位引入当地城市。CNBC商业频道一份报告显示，多达42个州为数据中心项目提供全额或部分销售税减免，甚至完全免收州销售税。直到空气污染与居民用水安全受到质疑，环境问题才被提上议事日程。
In recent years, local state'stax exemption incentiveshave attracted large tech corporations to bring in high tech jobs into their cities. A report by CNBC business found that as many as 42 states provide full or partial sales tax exemptions to data center projects or have no state sales tax at all. Environmental concern was noton the front docketuntil air pollution and water reserves for citizens were in question.
*on the front docket: of high priority, scheduled to be addressed soon, at the top of the official agenda
部分科技企业正自行达成协议以获取更清洁能源。例如，Meta公司近期签署了一份具有里程碑意义的20年购电协议，购买伊利诺伊州一座1.1吉瓦核电站的全部发电量。与此同时，Meta在美国南部依赖化石燃料的扩张呈现出双重性。路易斯安那州的Entergy公司提议新建三座燃气发电厂，专门用于为Meta的数据中心供电。该项目因潜在气候影响正面临法律审查，据预测，其日耗电量将达到新奥尔良市全城的三倍。微软、谷歌及其他超大规模企业也在尝试通过签署风能、太阳能协议，探索绿色人工智能的发展路径。
Some tech companies are striking their own deals to secure cleaner energy. For example, Meta recentlyinkeda landmark 20-year purchase agreement for the entire output of a 1.1 GW nuclear power plant in Illinois. At the same time, Meta's expansion in the southern region of the U.S. powered by fossil fuels seems to be double-faced. Louisiana's Entergy Corp. has proposed building three new gas-fired power plantsexclusively tofeed Meta's data centers. This project is now under legal scrutiny for its potential climate impacts, which are forecasted to burn 3 times as much electricity as the city of New Orleans at any given day. Microsoft, Google, and other hyperscalers are also attempting to find a green AI path by signing wind and solar deals.
*ink (v.) 签署、签订（=sign）【e.g. ink a deal/contract】