Study Says Grid Can Handle AI Power Surge

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2025 — Rising electricity demand from data centers and artificial intelligence does not require slowing construction of new facilities, according to a think tank report that said existing grid capacity could absorb near-term growth through targeted upgrades and workload scheduling.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonprofit think-tank, said in a Monday report that U.S. electricity use was rising again after nearly two decades of flat demand.

It projected steady growth through 2026, driven largely by AI computing, electric vehicles and industrial electrification. Data centers could reach roughly 7 to 12 percent of national electricity consumption by 2028, up from about 4 percent today.