The proliferation of data centers is the primary driver of energy demand growth in the United States. According to energy expert David Walsh, while energy demand typically aligns with gross domestic product growth at around 1.6 percent per year, Dominion Energy within the PJM Power Transmission Consortium is experiencing a much higher growth rate of 7 percent annually.
Walsh emphasizes the current electricity shortage in the country, exacerbated by the shift away from coal and gas under the Biden Administration. He notes that only traditional fossil fuel plants can meet the increasing energy needs driven by data centers and population growth.
The push for “green” or “renewable” energy is expected to contribute marginally to energy growth in the future, but the reliance on renewables alone is insufficient to bridge the energy delivery gaps.
The demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is a significant factor in the expansion of data centers, as AI requires substantial and expanding data, necessitating more data centers that, in turn, require increased energy consumption.
The growth of data centers, particularly in areas like Data Center Alley in Virginia, is relentless, but the state faces challenges in meeting the rising energy demands.
Efforts to introduce small modular nuclear reactors in Virginia are underway, but significant hurdles exist, and it may take a decade or more before these reactors contribute to the energy supply.
Despite the push towards renewables, the reality is that fossil fuels remain the most practical solution to meet the immediate energy needs of data centers. Natural gas turbines, in particular, are easy to build and deploy, making them a viable option to support the energy requirements of data centers.
In conclusion, while the future may hold potential for alternative energy sources like small modular nuclear reactors, the current demand for energy from data centers necessitates a continued reliance on fossil fuels to meet the growing energy needs. Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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