"Rising Data Center Demand and AI's Energy Consumption: Challenges for US Electric Utilities"

U.S. electric utilities are preparing for a significant surge in power demand driven by data centers, particularly those supporting generative AI technology. The rapid growth in electricity consumption from these facilities is expected to triple globally, leading to concerns about the industry's ability to respond to the increased demand due to a backlog of power generation and transmission projects. Some state legislators are also scrutinizing the strain on power grids and environmental impact caused by data centers, posing potential threats to electricity demand in certain regions.