The AI War By Fossil Fuels
AI demand is driving increased fossil fuel use at utilities. This is Douglas McIntyre, editor-in-chief at Climate Crisis, reporting from New York City.
Inside Climate News reports that, fueled by the surge in data centers, the power grid is struggling to break its reliance on natural gas. Big tech’s AI frenzy is significantly increasing electricity demand nationwide. The grid remains stuck in a cycle of natural gas dependency, slow to bring new clean energy projects online, leaving their construction stalled.
Every three months, John Rieta gets a close-up look at the grid’s potential future, according to Inside Climate News. In his most recent review of 128 utility plans, he found that utilities plan to build twice as much natural gas capacity as projected just 18 months ago.
Utilities In Trouble
The primary driver of this shift is utilities rushing to meet the electricity demands of data centers, with projections for these needs continuing to rise. This trend is concerning for those concerned about the costs to taxpayers and its impact on the climate.
Fossil fuel use is expected to continue growing. Renewables will not be able to supply enough energy to offset the huge demand for AI data centers. Coal may even make a comeback.
Sponsor
Find a Vetted Financial Advisor
- Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
- Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!
