Critical Minerals and Data Centers: Energy Security, Environment, and Policy

This study group, led by M-RCBG Senior Fellow Vini Floris, explores how the growth of data centers and artificial intelligence connects energy security, critical minerals, environmental impacts, and public policy. Participants will examine rising electricity demand, the minerals and metals needed for computing, power, cooling, and storage, and supply-chain vulnerabilities associated with import dependence, concentrated processing capacity, and lengthy development timelines.

Discussions will also address environmental impacts across the lifecycle, from mining and manufacturing to electricity use, water consumption, and equipment disposal.

The study group concludes with a discussion of policy and governance priorities, inviting participants to weigh options for aligning data-center development with grid capacity, diversifying mineral supplies, strengthening environmental safeguards, and promoting reuse and recovery while balancing reliability, cost, deployment speed, and long-term liabilities.