On days like this—warm air, clear skies, that hint of summer lingering as we step toward fall—it’s easy to overlook what hums beneath the surface of your child’s tablet adventures and their AI energy consumption. Headlines whisper a surprising truth: AI’s hunger for power is giving retired coal plants a second lease on life. But what does this energy puzzle mean for the tiny humans we’re raising to inherit tomorrow? Let’s unpack it together.
Why AI Is Reviving Coal Plants—The Complications
Imagine planning a last-minute family trip. You’d normally map a new route, but instead, you dust off an old path through those familiar woods—it’s quicker, even if bumpy! That’s exactly what’s happening with AI data centers. They’re reviving old coal plant connections—like grabbing your kid’s favorite shortcut trail—to power massive data hubs overnight. Why? Because building fresh electrical pathways takes years, but these pre-existing links offer a shortcut when time’s tight.
Fortune details how Pennsylvania’s Homer City coal plant is transforming into a sprawling AI campus powered by natural gas. Maryland’s Brandon Shores coal plant? Extended till 2029. Michigan’s J.H. Campbell site? Given new life beyond its closure date. It’s practical—like using your kid’s well-worn stroller path through the park when the main trail’s blocked. But here’s where we pause: shortcuts risk leaving us on paths we hadn’t planned to walk.
How AI Energy Demands Impact Our Children’s Air?
Our kids’ world is shaped by choices they didn’t make. When coal plants get extended stays, it’s not just about megawatts—it’s about the air swirling around playgrounds and soccer fields. Those ‘dirty’ emissions can linger like fog, dimming the very clarity we hope for their future.
The International Energy Agency projects data center energy use doubling by 2030—enough to power all of Japan. Ever counted how many devices hum in your home? Imagine explaining hazy skies to a seven-year-old: ‘Why can’t we see the birds clearly today, Daddy?’ It’s a tough conversation, but it’s a golden door to wonder. Those ‘why?’ moments? Perfect sparks for exploring the energy that powers their favorite apps and animations.
Turning Worry Into Wonder: Teaching Kids About Energy
One evening, we turned off the living room lights and grabbed flashlights. ‘Let’s explore power!’ I said, tracing beams over storybook windmills and solar panels. Instead of fretting over AI’s energy appetite, we made it an adventure: ‘What if electricity could tell stories?’ My daughter drew ‘sunbeam dancers’ powering our home. It’s not about lecturing—it’s about lighting the spark.
Reuters notes these coal extensions are temporary fixes while cleaner power catches up. That ‘temporary’ is key for kids—like candles during a storm till the lights return. Try pointing at a breezy park bench: ‘Feel that wind? Someday it might charge your tablet!’ Small moments build understanding. Screen time for virtual forests? Sure. Then swap it for cloud-watching where ‘what if’ flies freely.
Empowering Kids: Our Real Power Over Energy’s Future
Here’s what gives me goosebumps: We’re raising the humans who’ll solve these puzzles. Start simple—become ‘energy detectives’ together. Unplug forgotten chargers (‘phantom energy’—spooky, right?). Plant seeds in a windowsill garden and watch them bow to the sun, like tiny solar panels. When your child asks about AI, frame it positively: ‘It helps doctors find cures and lets you draw dancing dragons! But we’re learning to power it kindly.’
Balance isn’t about cutting back—it’s layering. Tech for creating, then toes in grass for grounding. That’s resilience: helping kids see themselves as solution-makers. Tonight, trace constellations—that clean air? Worth fighting for—and when you hear those giggles as they name stars? That pure energy lights up everything.
Source: How the AI data center boom is breathing new life into dirty, old coal plants, Fortune, 2025/08/31