The NBA Finals open tonight in Texas with the New York Knicks facing the San Antonio Spurs,while a United Nations report warns that data centers worldwide are now consuming electricity on par with entire nations. At the same time, Senate Republicans have halted a Democratic effort to reinstate stricter EPA limits on coal‑plant emissions.

UN report says data centers will rank 11th in global electricity use by 2025

According to the United Nations,the combined power draw of data centers in 2025 will place them 11th among the world’s electricity‑consuming entities, matching the consumption of dozens of individual countries. The report notes that this amount of enegry could power the residential population of Sub‑Saharan Africa for more than two and a half years.

The UN analysis also projects that data‑center demand will more than double by 2030, swelling to nearly 3% of global electricity use. This rapid growth reflects the accelerating shift to cloud services, AI workloads, and streaming media, all of which rely on massive server farms.

Europe proposes continent‑wide efficiency standards to curb data‑center power draw

European policymakers are responding to the UN findings by drafting efficiency standards that would require new and existing data centers to meet stricter energy‑use benchmarks.. If adopted, the rules could force operators to upgrade cooling systems, improve server utilization, and adopt renewable‑energy contracts.

Industry groups have warned that overly aggressive targets could push firms to relocate to regions with laxer regulations, potentially undermining Europe’s own digital sovereignty goals.

North Carolina bill could bar local incentives for data‑center development

In the United States, the North Carolina General Assembly is debating a bill that would prohibit municipalities from offering tax breaks or other incentives to attract data‑center projects. Proponents argue that the state should not subsidize facilities that strain the electric grid, while opponents claim the measure could drive jobs and investment away.

The proposal comes as the state already hosts several large‑scale facilities, and utilities have reported spikes in demand during peak computing periods.

Senate Republicans block vote on EPA’s coal‑plant toxin rule

Senate Republicans have blocked a Democratic attempt to reverse the EPA’s recent softening of air‑toxin regulations for coal‑fired power plants. The move stalls a rule that would have tightened emissions limits, a step many environmental groups view as essential for curbing climate‑related health risks.

According to the report, the blockage reflects broader partisan divides over how aggressively the United States should regulate carbon‑intensive industries amid rising global energy tensions.

Open question: Will Europe’s efficiency standards survive industry pushback?

One key uncertainty is whether the proposed European efficiency standards will pass legislative scrutiny, given strong lobbying from data‑center operators who fear competitive disadvantages. The UN data underscores the urgency,but the final shape of the policy remains unclear.

Another unresolved issue is how the North Carolina incentive ban will affect the state’s overall tech ecosystem , especially as other states vie to become data‑center hubs.