Tech companies that have historically criticized building new fossil fuel infrastructure, while pouring billions into renewables, have been changing their tune. Some have softened their stance on climate agendas; others are announcing plans to build new gas plants. The artificial intelligence (AI) boom that requires a more dynamic energy landscape is driving the reversal.
AI depends on data centers to house the computing infrastructure. And data centers require continuous energy in large quantities to function, which most certainly can’t be supplied by so-called green energy sources like wind and solar.
Energy forecasts are daunting: U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow 25 percent by 2030 and 78 percent by 2050 from 2023 levels. This is largely due to data center growth.
Kristen Walker is the energy policy analyst for the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visitwww.theamericanconsumer.org or follow on X @ConsumerPal.