Overview
- Global data center electricity use is projected to grow 16% in 2025 and roughly double by 2030, with AI‑optimized servers driving most of the increase, Gartner says.
- U.S. residential electricity prices rose 7.4% year over year in September, and experts cite AI data centers as a major driver as utilities pass infrastructure costs to customers, CNBC reports.
- NERC’s 2025–26 winter assessment warns round‑the‑clock data center load is contributing to higher peak demand and potential supply shortfalls during severe cold, with Texas and parts of the Northeast and Northwest cited as vulnerable.
- Industry analyses indicate data center building will likely crest around 2026 before spending shifts toward GPUs and compute hardware, echoed by Meta’s front‑loading strategy and Microsoft’s capex pivot.
- Developers and investors are pursuing powered sites, on‑site and self‑power solutions such as natural gas, fuel cells and BESS, and diversifying to non‑traditional markets as transmission and distribution constraints tighten.