Американцы выражают тревогу по поводу будущего энергетики из-за растущего влияния ИИ и дата-центров Headline: Americans Express Concern About the Future of Energy Due to the Growing Influence of AI and Data Centers

Eighty percent of electricity consumers in the United States are concerned about the impact of data centers on their utility bills, according to a study by Sunrun.

A survey of 1,000 American homeowners indicates a growing distrust in traditional energy companies and their ability to meet the increasing electricity demands of the nation. Many individuals fear rising rates, more frequent outages, and the inadequacy of the power grid to handle growing loads.

A significant number are already feeling the instability:

Eighty-seven percent reported negative effects, including spoiled food, lost income, and issues with medical equipment.

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity demand in the U.S. has remained steady for over a decade.

In the past five years, commercial users, including data centers and industrial enterprises, have ramped up energy consumption. The annual growth rates for these sectors were 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively.

Meanwhile, residential electricity usage increased by 0.7% over the past year.

Currently, data centers account for about 4% of electricity consumption in the U.S.—more than double the figure from 2018. According to forecasts from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, this figure could rise to between 6.7% and 12% by 2028.

The growth of new capacities in solar and wind energy, alongside the implementation of large-scale battery systems, has helped meet rising demand.

The EIA predicts that renewable energy sources will dominate new generating capacities for at least the next year. This trend could continue beyond 2026, but experts forecast that the repeal of key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act by Republicans will hinder growth.

Natural gas, another energy source, has not met expectations. While production is on the rise, the majority of new supplies are being directed towards export rather than the domestic market.

The construction of new natural gas power plants is expected to take longer than initially anticipated. Typically, the process takes around four years to complete, but shortages of turbines have complicated matters, with manufacturers warning that timelines could extend to seven years.

Slow development of gas infrastructure, combined with constraints on renewable sources, has placed data center owners in a challenging situation.

According to Pew Research, most respondents express anxiety regarding the advancement of AI rather than inspiration. Mass layoffs only exacerbate fears and skepticism towards the technology.

It is worth noting that in July 2024, Bernstein Research predicted a potential electricity deficit if the demand growth from AI-focused data centers continues.