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The rapid growth of AI-driven data centers is straining the U.S. power grid, leading to concerns about electricity shortages and rising costs. Getty Images

AI boom fuels data center growth, straining US power grid

Headshot of Jack Aylmer

Jack Aylmer

Energy Correspondent

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is driving a significant increase in the number of data centers across the United States. This growth is placing mounting pressure on the nation’s power grid, raising concerns about the future of electricity availability and transmission capacity. Data centers, which house the servers and infrastructure needed for AI processing, are expected to account for nearly 9% of U.S. electricity consumption by 2030. Across six states, these facilities account for over 10% of total energy consumption. In Virginia, data centers use more than 25% of the state’s total electricity, making it the national…

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