Perhaps the most notable consequence of the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI)—beyond the now-ubiquitous generative chatbots—is the technology’s voracious appetite for energy. Most notably, the gradual suffusion of data centers across the United States has resulted in skyrocketing utility bills for everyday Americans.
AI’s growing energy needs are adding pressure to global power systems. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that data centers, which support much of AI model training and deployment, now account for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption, with demand projected to grow by about 15% per year through 2030.
