Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said the impact of the rapid expansion of data centres on the UK's efforts to lower carbon emissions to net zero is "inherently uncertain". Miliband made the comment in a letter to MPs who had expressed concerns about data centres not being mentioned in the government's plans to deliver net zero. MPs have launched a new inquiry into the environmental impacts of data centres in the UK after receiving Miliband's letter. Data centres are giant facilities full of powerful computers used to run digital services, such as streaming and artificial intelligence (AI). The UK government wants the country to be a world leader in AI and is seeking to attract investment in data centres to achieve this goal. But there are concerns about the large amounts of water and electricity needed to run them, including from gas-powered generators. Dozens of new data centres, many funded by US tech firms, are being planned and environmental campaigners fear this could significantly increase emissions.…