The U.S. is witnessing a surge in power demand, with an estimated need for the equivalent of 40 new nuclear plants over the next five years. This increase is attributed to the boom in domestic industry and the growing need for AI-driven computing power. However, lesser-known factors such as the popularity of crypto mining and legalized marijuana are also adding strain to the grid.
Data centers, essential for cloud computing, currently account for about 2.5% of the nation’s energy consumption. This figure is expected to triple by the end of the decade, driven by the growth in AI applications and cryptocurrency mines. AI and crypto are both energy-intensive activities, with AI applications projected to use as much power as the entire nation of the Netherlands by 2027. Crypto mining claims as much as 2.3% of America’s energy use.
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