The adoption of AI requires a vast amount of computing power, which is why data centres are popping up all over the country.

With 270 of these facilities established across Australia already, the Australian Energy Market Operator predicts that by 2030, data centres will take up 6 per cent of the energy grid.

But three local councils in are pushing back, with one calling on a NSW inquiry to stop all approvals until the resource impacts of these centres are fully quantified.