AI Boom Expected to Drive 38% Surge in Electricity Demand on Largest U.S. Grid

The rapid expansion of AI data centers could strain aging power infrastructure and require major energy investments.

Electricity demand on the PJM Interconnection grid, which spans 13 states, is projected to increase by 38% by 2035, equivalent to adding two New England-sized grids.
The rise in demand is driven by the proliferation and growing scale of AI data centers, some of which will consume as much energy as entire cities.
The Biden Administration and President Trump have emphasized AI as crucial for national security and economic growth, further fueling the technology's expansion.
Experts warn that the surge in power usage could overwhelm aging U.S. grid infrastructure, necessitating significant upgrades and new power plant construction.
At the Davos forum, President Trump advocated building power plants alongside data centers to address potential delays and reliability issues in connecting to the grid.