Diesel Generators at Data Centers: Status, Impacts, and Protective Practices

As data center development grows at an unprecedented rate in the race to scale AI, so has their energy consumption and need for backup power. Energy consumption from data centers in the U.S. nearly tripled from 76 TWh in 2018 to ~200 TWh in 2024. Over the same period, diesel generator capacity at data centers in the U.S. also nearly tripled from an estimated 20 GW to 55 GW. In Oregon, data centers have 6 GW in permitted and proposed diesel generators, which is double the average power usage of all the homes in the state. Over 10,500 generator units have been permitted for data centers in Virginia as of the end of 2025, with a total capacity of 27 GW. This capacity is equivalent to the power consumption of over 20 million U.S. homes; Virginia has less than 4 million homes. Even if used exclusively for emergency backup power, this quantity of diesel generators could create significant exposure to harmful air pollution, particularly in areas with many large data centers. But as surging data center electricity demand outpaces supply, the grid becomes increasingly stressed, and developers prioritize speed at all costs, the potential for diesel generators to be used more regularly grows. Already, federal and state policies promote diesel generators for demand response, while industry markets them for non-emergency use. This shift is particularly concerning in an era of deregulation and weakened environmental and public health protections. This report was prepared in response to questions we’ve received from communities, state and local governments, and Tribes about the impacts of diesel generators and ways to limit harm. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of how and why diesel generators are deployed for data centers, what the impacts can be, and some key ways to eliminate or minimize harm. We recognize that diesel generators are only one of many causes of data centers impacts—this narrow focus is not intended to de-emphasize other critical topics, including water use, energy use, bill impacts, land use, jobs, economics, and more. BDCP believes communities have a right to determine if and how data centers are developed and powered, and that everyone deserves clean air and water, healthy and comfortable surroundings, a sustainable local economy, and a stable climate.