Amazon, Google, And Meta Take Over Electricity
All the large tech companies were going to be green by 2040. They would build their own solar and wind farms. They might even supply electricity to other companies via a grid. Now, it appears they will be electricity hogs within a year or two. At that point, the overall demand for electricity might make the US utilities consider returning to coal,
The New York Times pointed out this trend recently. However, the problem might be worse than they expect. Eric Schmidt, the former head of Google, says that AI server farms will need 99% of the electricity worldwide. That is impossible. So something will need to give.
Energy Bills
There was another assumption about the largest tech companies. They would help design the grid and energy system of the future. May will build their grids, however, and these will not be attached to those that serve residences or legacy customers
The Times asks another question, which is who will fight for legacy electricity users. The first wave may be electricity users themselves, particularly as rates for electricity rise. However, grassroots protests are not going to work against the world’s largest companies and their armies of lobbyists and lawyers.
Electivity may be the biggest political football of the 2028 election, and it may stay that way for years. It is almost impossible to see how electricity demand can stop rising. At some point, the bill comes due in terms of both rates and usage
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