The accelerated expansion of artificial intelligence has driven historic growth in United States data centers, pushing national electricity consumption to unprecedented highs in 2024. Data from the Pew Research Center indicates that the energy demand of these technological infrastructures currently exceeds 4% of the national total—a figure that could double by 2030 due to digitalization and AI advancements.
This proliferation is driven by both the massive processing of information and state and federal incentives aimed at attracting investments and strengthening the digital economy. There are over 4,000 data centers in the United States, with a third concentrated in Virginia, Texas, and California.
Key development areas include Northern Virginia, Dallas, Chicago, and Phoenix, where the combination of robust electrical services, suitable land, and access to high-quality networks continues to attract large facilities.
There are several types of data centers. Hyperscale centers, capable of housing over 5,000 servers and spanning up to 100,000 square meters, lead the expansion due to their ability to handle massive workloads, particularly in AI applications and cloud computing.
Enterprise data centers serve the private needs of large companies, while colocation centers rent space and services to third parties. Against this backdrop, states are competing through tax incentives and expedited permits to attract jobs, tax revenue, and business opportunities associated with these facilities.
Energy Consumption and Growth
The impact on energy consumption is significant. According to the Pew Research Center, with support from data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, roughly equivalent to Pakistan’s annual consumption.
Projections indicate that by 2030, this figure could reach 426 TWh, representing a 133% increase. A single hyperscale AI data center can consume as much electricity as 100,000 households in a year, and projects in development could multiply that demand twentyfold.
This surge in consumption is straining local grids: In 2023, data centers accounted for 26% of Virginia’s electricity use and significant percentages in North Dakota (15%), Nebraska (12%), Iowa (11%), and Oregon (11%).
Nearly 60% of the energy is used to power AI-optimized servers, which consume two to four times more electricity than traditional equipment.
The remaining energy use primarily goes toward cooling systems, which can account for 7% to over 30% of consumption in less efficient facilities.
These cooling systems require large volumes of water: In 2023 alone, U.S. data centers used approximately 64.35 billion liters, with 84% concentrated in hyperscale and colocation facilities. Estimates suggest that by 2028, annual water consumption could range between 60.5 billion and 125 billion liters for hyperscale centers alone.
Energy Sources and Grid Challenges
Regarding energy sources, a report released by the Pew Research Center estimates that natural gas supplied over 40% of the electricity used by data centers in 2024, followed by renewables (24%), nuclear energy (20%), and coal (15%).
While natural gas is expected to remain the primary energy source through 2030, nuclear energy could gain ground, as tech companies have signed agreements with sector startups and are advancing plans to reactivate nuclear plants in Pennsylvania and Iowa.
Meanwhile, states like California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Virginia have debated laws to incentivize renewable energy use and require greater transparency in electricity and water consumption.
Impact on Electricity Rates
The growth of data centers directly affects residential and commercial electricity rates, as utility companies must undertake costly grid upgrades—costs that are often passed on to consumers and small businesses.
In the PJM electricity market (spanning from Illinois to North Carolina), data centers contributed to an estimated $9.3 billion increase in the “capacity market” for 2025–2026, which will translate into monthly bill hikes of $18 in western Maryland and $16 in Ohio.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University, cited by the Pew Research Center, warns that the expansion of data centers and cryptocurrency mining could raise the average national electricity bill by 8% by 2030—and exceed 25% in high-demand regions like central and northern Virginia. In 2024, the average U.S. residential electricity bill reached $142 per month, a 25% increase from 2014.
Environmental Challenges and Public Debate
The environmental implications of this trend have sparked national debate. The intensive consumption of resources like water and energy, along with reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power, raises questions about the sustainability of this model.
While some states have implemented regulations to promote clean energy and transparency, pressure on electrical infrastructure and the natural environment persists.
According to the Pew Research Center report, U.S. public opinion is divided on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence: Some identify risks and concerns, while others see technological opportunities or hold contradictory views on the future of AI and its effect on the environment.
Image: Infobae
