AI data centers trigger a "power war": US moves to accelerate grid connection for large-scale computing facilities

Odaily Planet Daily News The AI boom has caused a surge in electricity demand from data centers across the United States, leading to persistently high electricity prices in many areas, with some regions even issuing blackout warnings. To alleviate the power supply dilemma, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the 18th required regional grid operators to consider new agreements to speed up the grid connection process for large power consumers like data centers. The commission also stated that future rulemaking would no longer proactively consider environmental impacts under the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act.

According to data from the Data Center Map, there are currently over 4,000 data centers in operation across the United States, with a large number more in the planning or construction phase. However, the pace of construction of these data centers far exceeds the speed at which new power plants can be brought online. Coupled with the slow process of connecting to the grid, major tech giants across the country are scrambling to secure power quotas for their data centers. Data from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) shows that data centers currently account for about 5% of total U.S. electricity demand, a share that could rise to approximately 20% by 2035. (CCTV Finance)