AI, Energy, and Climate
The use of Artificial Intelligence enables both opportunities and risks for the energy system and for broader climate mitigation and climate resilience efforts. Our research helps inform decision-makers how AI data centers and broader AI use across the economy affect energy systems, climate change, resilience, and innovation. Our outputs enable policymakers to better protect the public, advance innovation and national security, maximize benefits, and minimize risks. Prof. Samaras serves on the National Academies’ Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change, and he designed and taught a new course, “AI Engineering and Policy for Climate Mitigation and Resilience”, which is the first course at Carnegie Mellon focused on the intersection of AI and climate change.
Selected Research Outputs
Working Paper: Newkirk, A., Gerber, D., Fuchs, E., Hubbard, A., Morgan, M.G., Shehabi, A., Smith, S., Samaras, C. (2026). Technoeconomic Analysis of Microgrids for AI Data Centers in the Continental United States. [Open Access Version].
Journal Paper: Newkirk, A. C., Fernandez, J., Koomey, J., Latif, I., Strubell, E., Shehabi, A., Samaras, C. (2025). Empirically-calibrated H100 node power models for accurate AI training energy estimation. Environmental Research: Energy. [Accepted Version].
Op-Ed: Venkatasubramanian, S., Donovan, C., Samaras, C. (2025). Trump’s AI Strategy Is At War With Itself. Tech Policy Press, August 7, 2025.
Research Briefs: Coordinated university-wide research briefs on CMU’s AI and energy work.
Policy Brief: Samaras, C. (2025). Speed Grid Connection Using ‘Smart AI Fast Lanes’ and Competitive Prizes. Federation of American Scientists, June 27, 2025.
Op-Ed: Samaras, C., Strubbell, E., Krishnan, R. (2025). AI’s energy impact is still small—but how we handle it is huge. MIT Technology Review. May 20, 2025.
National Academies Roundtable: Appointed to the National Academies Roundtable on AI and Climate Change.
New Course: Launched a new course at Carnegie Mellon, “AI Engineering and Policy for Climate Mitigation and Resilience”.
Task Force: Selected to serve on the Bipartisan Policy Center AI and Energy Task Force.
White House Executive Order: Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, 2023. Served as the OSTP lead for climate and energy impacts for the Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence.
White House Report: White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2022). Climate and Energy Implications of Crypto-Assets in the United States. Led the Administration’s Interagency Working Group and this public report to assess the climate, energy, and policy implications of crypto-assets. Served as lead external White House representative for media commentary about this report.
White House Executive Order: Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets, 2022. Led the climate and energy sections of this Executive Order.