Central Ohio's booming data center industry is creating an energy crisis, with demand potentially outstripping supply in the next decade.

President Donald Trump’s national address touched on the rising energy costs incurred by increasing AI use, in addition to reinforcing his administration’s imperative to tackle fraud in government programs.

Good afternoon and happy Thursday, Daily on Energy readers! We’re kicking off today’s newsletter with the latest goings-on in the

Federal researchers estimate that U.S. data centers used about 176 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2023, and that figure could double or triple by the end of the decade as AI expands.

Multiple reports show the data centers used to store, train and operate AI models use significant amounts of energy and water, with a rippling impact on the environment and public health.

Data centers currently consume 4%-5% of U.S. electricity generation. The new estimates of data center load are 60% higher than EPRI’s prior 2024 estimates, driven by the accelerated pace of data center development over the past 18 months.

Journal Sentinel readers sent more than 300 questions about data centers in Wisconsin. Here is a summary of the most common questions and answers.

A Duke study finds shifting when data centers use electricity could avoid billions in new power plant costs and limit natural gas expansion as AI demand grows.

But there is another reason to add to the list: water consumption. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a typical 100-megawatt hyperscale data center consumes around 530,000 gallons of water per day, equivalent to the use of 6,500 homes.

After the San Marcos City Council voted to deny a rezoning proposal from a data center, some water advocates took a breath, but the fight to preserve Hays County water isn't over.