Energy Department Report Raises Blackout Risks from AI and Increased Electrification if Current Utility Plans Continue

Energy Department Report Raises Blackout Risks from AI and Increased Electrification if Current Utility Plans Continue

A Department of Energy (DOE) report indicates that the United States could face significant power shortages by 2030 if the closure of existing coal and natural gas-fired generation facilities continues amid huge growth in electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The report identifies 104 gigawatts of existing capacity that is slated for closure in the next five years, while 210 gigawatts of new capacity is expected to c…