Fossil generation could rise with faster-than-expected growth in data center power demand

Electricity demand has been rising steadily since 2020 after more than a decade of little change. Between 2020 and 2025, U.S. electricity demand, as measured by net energy for load, grew about 1.7% annually compared with 0.1% annual growth between 2005 and 2019. Electricity use by data centers is...