The US power grid is facing a significant challenge as demand for electricity from data centers, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, is expected to more than double in the next five years. The facilities are projected to require as much energy as the entire country of Japan does today.
Despite growing skepticism among consumers, tech firms continue to invest heavily in AI research and development. However, this growth comes with a significant environmental impact, as AI relies on vast amounts of compute power and data storage that consume large amounts of electricity.
Microsoft President Brad Smith acknowledged the challenge, stating that “A.I. relies on a lot of what we call compute… So all of that requires more electricity.” To address this, Microsoft is partnering with Constellation Energy to restart two nuclear plants, including the Three Mile Island facility in Pennsylvania, which will add over 800 megawatts of energy to the grid.
Constellation President and CEO Joseph Dominguez emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources. “We don’t need 24/7 power for the full amount of electricity in the U.S. We still have seasonal needs, we still have day and night differences.” Meta is also partnering with Constellation to relicense its Clinton Clean Energy Center in central Illinois.
The US electric grid has seen limited growth over the past decade, while China has doubled its size. According to White House A.I. and Crypto Czar David Sacks, “We have to have the most infrastructure… We need more data centers… We need more computing power, and that means more energy.” The administration aims to quadruple domestic nuclear power production within the next 25 years.
As AI continues to advance, its appetite for electricity is expected to remain insatiable. The US power grid must adapt to meet this growing demand, balancing energy efficiency with environmental concerns.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/artificial-intelligence-fuels-big-tech-partnerships-nuclear-energy-producers