US Grids Push Back: Emergency Power Cutoffs Eyed for Energy-Hungry Data Centers
US Grids Push Back: Emergency Power Cutoffs Eyed for Energy-Hungry Data Centers
U.S. electricity grids are facing unprecedented pressure from the explosive growth of Big Tech’s data centers, prompting policymakers to consider drastic measures, including temporarily disconnecting these energy-intensive facilities during power emergencies. This strategy, first adopted by Texas, is now emerging across the nation as states grapple with maintaining grid stability amid a surge in demand driven largely by artificial intelligence.
Texas took the lead after passing a bill in June to establish standards for power emergencies, allowing utilities to disconnect major electric users. This move aims to prevent widespread blackouts, reminiscent of the deadly 2021 winter storm, by conserving power on days of extreme demand. The concept is quickly gaining traction in other regions, including the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid operated by PJM Interconnection, which serves 65 million people and critical data center hubs in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The rapid proliferation of data centers, fueled by the late 2022 debut of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the subsequent global demand for generative AI, is outpacing the construction of new power plants. This imbalance is forcing grid operators, such as the Southwest Power Pool serving the Great Plains, to expand existing power-reduction programs. While data centers are an economic boon, their insatiable demand for electricity poses a significant challenge, eliciting pushback from tech giants for whom a consistent power supply is vital. Experts warn that flexible power consumption from data centers will become an expectation, if not a mandate, as the U.S. competes in the global AI race.
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