A Carnegie Mellon economist's peer-reviewed analysis found that U.S. data centers imposed $25 billion in annual economic costs through air pollution and climate emissions in 2025, with $3.7 billion tied specifically to AI training. The research converts health damage and mortality risk into dollar terms—data centers' electricity demand forces local power grids to generate pollution that harms nearby residents. The article also documents how local governments are losing $100+ million yearly in tax revenue by offering data center developers massive breaks, while permanent job creation is limited compared to the promised economic benefits. Virginia and Texas account for roughly 30% of these health costs due to data center concentration in those states.