⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a four-minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here. We’ve got a couple of big things cooking in the National Account kitchen this week, which I’m really excited to show you in the next couple of days.
But for now, let’s crack on with the news 🗞️.
There's a risk data centres are offered an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet of power and water. Without proper guardrails, communities pick up the tab.
🗣️ Why did he say that?
A new plan, endorsed by a coalition of industry groups, unions, community groups and environmental organisations, would see future data centres built during Australia’s AI boom adhere to a set of principles. The proposal is now on the desks of two government ministers.
Industry Minister Tim Ayres and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton, have received the proposal, which outlines eight guardrails for new data centres:
Be powered by 100% additional renewable energy
Strengthen grid stability
Be appropriately sited to minimise impacts on nature and land use
Cut emissions and waste, and use energy and materials efficiently
Use water resources responsibly
Operate with transparency
Commit to earning and maintaining an ongoing social licence
Support the training and upskilling of the workforce
Rob Law, Senior Manager, Energy Transitions at WWF Australia, told the National Account:
“If governments are going to roll out the red carpet for data centres, it needs to be lined with hard guardrails on water and energy before the rush locks in problems that are hard to undo.”
He added that some data centres already use better practices, but that it was up to governments to make it the norm, not the exception.
In response to the plan, Data Centres Australia CEO Belinda Dennett posted on LinkedIn:
“Principles developed independently of the industry are inherently limited. Without grounding in operational reality, commercial feasibility and the existing regulatory landscape, they risk being impractical.
“This is a sector that has committed to net zero by 2030 targets and does not need to be compelled to act.”
I’ll have more on this tomorrow, so keep an eye on our socials and YouTube channel:
🚅Missed the train?
Last week, I gave a quick rundown on the government’s new proposal for high-speed rail along Australia’s East Coast. Whether you believe this will actually ever happen in our lifetime or not is another question. But the video is still definitely worth a watch.
Thanks for catching up with me. I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just reply to this email and I’ll be on the other side 👋.
I’ll be back on Wednesday.
Cheers, Archie