The explosive growth of AI is transforming data centers into power-hungry giants, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the energy sector. As highlighted at our 2025 Data Center World Conference, US data center electricity consumption is projected to triple within three years, reaching up to 66 GW and representing 12% of total US electricity usage.

Industry leaders are rapidly adapting with innovative solutions:

• Natural gas dominance: Expected to triple in data center consumption by 2030, with VoltaGrid offering virtual pipelines and rapid-deployment generators
• Nuclear renaissance: Tech giants investing billions—Amazon backing 5 GW of small modular reactors, Microsoft reviving Three Mile Island, and Google developing molten salt reactors
• Strategic locations: Experts recommend building near natural gas basins in states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma
• Alternative approaches: Companies like Applied Digital utilizing stranded wind energy in North Dakota
• Self-generation trend: Over 35 GW of data center power will be self-generated by 2030

This "gold rush" represents a critical intersection of technology and energy infrastructure, with power availability becoming the determining factor in the pace of AI innovation and adoption worldwide.

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