New industries such as cryptocurrency and cannabis are boosting industry forecasts, straining efforts to cut emissions
Demand for power is soaring, creating a new energy crisis for the United States – one that could make the climate crisis even worse.
After more than 30 years of falling or flat demand for electricity, forecasts say the nation will need the equivalent of about 34 new nuclear plants, or 38 gigawatts, over the next five years to power data centers and manufacturing and electrify buildings and vehicles, according to filings made to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and compiled by Grid Strategies.
Since those filings, several utilities have said they will need even more power.
Georgia Power, which has more than 2.7 million customers, told regulators in 2022 it would need the equivalent of an extra single mid-sized power plant for the rest of the decade. But late last year, it said it will need 17 times more electricity – the equivalent of four new nuclear units – because of new data centers and manufacturing.
Because electrification has become a panacea to policy-makers. A magic cure-all solution to all emission problems. So we decided that we will let electricity demand run amok, with no coordinated plan to keep power usage in check. In reality, ideas like reducing power demand and limiting electricity usage will be necessary, even if it direct contradicts previous policies. Ultimately, this is another heavy industry, and making it green is going to be extremely hard. Doubly-so, if you are planning to absolutely explode power consumption.
Sooner or later, something will give. Either we admit that we have to spend many trillions of dollars to upgrade the grid, or realize that electrification isn’t the magic solution everyone thought it was. Heck, maybe even admit that some “green policies” were actually just corporate marketing from certain companies that benefit from electrification. You could even go as far as calling it greenwashing.
