Energy is crucial to winning economic development
Energy is crucial to winning economic development Clarion Ledger
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Winning in the Economic Development Arena
Winning in the fiercely competitive economic development arena hinges on a number of critical success factors with one of the most important being energy.
Amazon Web Services’ Investment in Mississippi
Amazon Web Services recently decided to locate two data centers in Madison County, Mississippi. These two facilities represent a $10 billion capital investment. They’ll bring a potential demand for 1,000 megawatts of electricity and generate an annual payroll approaching $100 million, which is why Governor Tate Reeves, the Mississippi Development Authority, Madison County Economic Development Authority and local officials worked in concert with Entergy Mississippi to attract and win the deal.
The Importance of Energy
The energy demand, 1,000 megawatts is a lot of electricity…enough to power 750,000 homes. Everything we do and everything we use requires energy.
Today, data centers in the U.S. require 21 gigawatts of electricity with that demand projected to exceed 50 gigawatts by 2030.
Energy Security for National Security
The U.S. is the world’s largest digitized economy followed by China. Energy security is national security.
Advanced nuclear, natural gas, hydro, solar, biomass, wind, small modular reactors and hydrogen along with batteries connected to a smart grid, are the planks in an energy security platform.
Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Energy policy that is needed should begin with the words, “More energy to keep the lights on, make the air, water and land cleaner and grow the economy at an affordable cost.”
The Potential of the U.S. in Energy Security
The good news is the U.S. has the resources, infrastructure and innovative spirit to be energy secure.
— Glenn McCullough is a former chairman of Tennessee Valley Authority.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services | Energy demand projections for data centers in the U.S. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 percent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries | Annual payroll generated by the data centers |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes | Investment in data centers as a capital investment |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The article discusses the energy demand of data centers in the U.S., highlighting the need for a significant amount of electricity. This aligns with SDG 7, which aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The article mentions that the data centers will generate an annual payroll approaching $100 million. This relates to SDG 8, which focuses on sustaining economic growth and promoting decent work.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article highlights the $10 billion capital investment in the data centers, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and innovation. This connects to SDG 9, which aims to upgrade infrastructure and promote sustainable industries.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
The article emphasizes the energy demand of data centers and the need for reliable electricity to power them. This aligns with the target of ensuring universal access to affordable and reliable energy services.
Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 percent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries
The article mentions that the data centers will generate an annual payroll approaching $100 million. This relates to the target of sustaining economic growth and promoting decent work.
Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes
The article highlights the $10 billion capital investment in the data centers, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and innovation. This connects to the target of upgrading infrastructure and promoting sustainable industries.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article mentions the following indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Energy demand projections for data centers in the U.S. can be used to measure progress towards ensuring universal access to affordable and reliable energy services (Target 7.1).
– The annual payroll generated by the data centers can be used to measure progress towards sustaining economic growth and promoting decent work (Target 8.1).
– The investment of $10 billion in the data centers can be used to measure progress towards upgrading infrastructure and promoting sustainable industries (Target 9.4).
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: clarionledger.com
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