At the current pace of AI growth, compute demand is projected to increase by a factor of 125 by 2030, requiring more and larger data centers that consume large amounts of energy. In fact, data center capacity will need to grow by 130 percent by 2030 to meet this demand.

Fact of the Week: Data Center Capacity Will Need to Increase by 130 Percent by 2030 to Meet the Demand for AI

Electricity demand is growing rapidly and starting to strain the grid. Instead of slowing the growth of data centers, the United States should deploy new technologies and strategies to efficiently increase grid capacity while accelerating new generation and transmission.

The United States Needs Data Centers, and Data Centers Need Energy, but That Is Not Necessarily a Problem

From 1998 to 2014, U.S. companies managed to increase output by 16.5 percent for each unit of energy input by adopting better IT, writes John Wu in Innovation Files.

Fact of the Week: U.S. Companies Increased Their “Energy Productivity” 16.5 Percent Between 1998 and 2014 by Adopting Better Software for Managing Industrial Processes

In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center last month, 66 percent of respondents said they believe the U.S. government should encourage wind and solar power production.

Fact of the Week: Two-Thirds of US Adults Think the Government Should Encourage the Production of Wind and Solar Power

As of November 2025, with over 400 data centers currently under development, the construction industry is facing a shortage of roughly 439,000 workers.

Fact of the Week: Construction Industry Facing a 439,000-Worker Shortage Driven by the Growth of Data Centers

The combined budgets for public energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) for International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries increased to $23.6 billion in 2021.

Fact of the Week: Public Energy RD&D Budgets for IEA Members Increased 5% to $23.6 Billion in 2021

This event will discuss the nature and importance of next-gen data center technologies and the role government can play as an early adopter.

Next-Gen Data Centers: Bringing Energy Efficiency to Government

In a Microsoft blog, Rob Atkinson outlines the central components of the next-generation smart grid.

Lightning in the Cloud: How IT-Based Innovation Will Enable the Smart Grid

Daniel Castro told the Washington Times that, “One of the reasons that a lot of companies haven’t [measured emissions] today is that there’s not really an easy way of doing it.”

Fact of the Week: Data Centers Are Projected To Consume Up To 9 Percent of US Electricity Generation by 2030

Related

Fact of the Week: Data Center Capacity Will Need to Increase by 130 Percent by 2030 to Meet the Demand for AI

The United States Needs Data Centers, and Data Centers Need Energy, but That Is Not Necessarily a Problem

Fact of the Week: U.S. Companies Increased Their “Energy Productivity” 16.5 Percent Between 1998 and 2014 by Adopting Better Software for Managing Industrial Processes