Policy · 1h ago
Data centers could consume 20% of US power by 2035, BNEF warns
Analysts at BNEF now forecast US data center power demand will reach 194 gigawatts by 2035, up 83% from their estimate seven months ago. The revised projection, which itself was 36% above an earlier April 2025 forecast, suggests data centers could consume one-fifth of the nation's electricity. The surge is driven by AI workloads and cloud expansion, raising concerns about grid capacity and energy costs.
Meridian48 take
The rapid upward revision underscores how AI's energy appetite is outpacing even bullish forecasts, making grid planning and renewable deployment critical bottlenecks.
Read the full reporting
Data centers forecast to use 20% of US power by 2035 — analysts estimate usage will rocket to 194 gigawatts, 83% more than forecast seven months ago →
Tom's Hardware
data-centersenergy-demand