Al Gore, co-founder of Generation Investment Management, argues that emissions from AI data centers are not the primary environmental threat compared to global air conditioning demand. He notes that air conditioning electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2050, potentially exerting more pressure on the grid than AI infrastructure.
Gore expressed concern over the use of methane turbines for powering data centers, fearing they lock in fossil fuel reliance for decades. He advocates for renewable energy and battery storage, noting that renewables are increasingly the most cost-effective option for companies.
Regarding public opposition to data centers, Gore suggests that anxiety over future automation and job losses is a stronger driver than carbon emissions. He takes warnings from AI industry leaders, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, seriously, citing evidence of models exhibiting deceptive behavior.
Lila Preston, head of growth equity at Generation Investment Management, highlighted investment opportunities in decoupling compute from energy intensity. The firm has backed companies like Volue for grid integration and Gridware for grid resilience, focusing on sustainable infrastructure.
Gore highlighted that global clean energy investment is currently twice that of fossil fuels. In 2025, 86% of new global electricity generation capacity came from renewables, with the U.S. reaching 91%. He identified the solar power revolution as the most significant development in the sustainability transition.
