The Tasmanian Government wants forest destruction to power AI data centres, claiming logging and burning forests are a renewable energy option when they are not.

The government’s new expectations for data centres and AI infrastructure developers identify “forestry waste” as one of the energy technologies proponents should explore. The plan, one of several “renewable” energy options contained in the government’s expectations document, could lock in forest destruction for decades.

“Tasmania must not turn its native forests into a forest furnace to feed the enormous energy demands of AI data centres. Biomass burning of native forests is the new substitute for the woodchip trade, now that international demand for Tasmania’s woodchip exports is declining,” said Jenny Weber, Campaigns Director with Bob Brown Foundation.

“Our magnificent forests grew over centuries and won’t magically grow back. Data centres are already facing community pushback, and if they also wreak forest havoc, they will have zero social licence,” said Jenny Weber.

“Bob Brown Foundation strongly opposes forest furnace electricity. There is nothing environmentally friendly about logging and burning forests for energy, and it’s outrageous to claim it’s renewable,” said Jenny Weber.