How AI Data Centers are Pushing America’s Electric Grid to Its Limits ("Just the facts, mam.")

They say “ignorance is bliss”, but that's not really true. Everybody knows it's not a good thing to bury your head in the sand. No matter how uncomfortable or painful the truth is, IF you need to know THEN … YOU NEED TO KNOW!

When I was very young, my mother had a habit of answering my questions with “You'll understand it when you get older.” Her answer was frustrating, but guess what? When I got older, I did understand. 

A lot of tech talk goes straight over my head. While I may not understand what's being said, I don't ignore it and forget it. I usually file it away in memory banks because … one day I might understand.

I apply my mom's wise words to nebulous (might be "nefarious") tech talk that I hear or read. I sigh and think to myself: 'I'll understand later.'

💡💡💡

While casually perusing a newsletter I subscribe to, these statements caught my eye.

“AI data centers are draining the U.S. grid faster than it can be rebuilt. Utilities are warning of shortages. Federal agencies are fast-tracking permits. Big Tech is scrambling to lock up turbines, pipelines, and baseload power just to keep their AI systems alive.” (SOURCE: WealthDaily.com)

I immediately thought: 'Nah! That can't be right. (O.o) Is it?'

So I did a little research, and I have to say that … I'm a bit alarmed.

• BOTTOM LINE: The core claims in that statement are broadly supported by current reporting, though with important nuance. Here’s what the evidence shows, broken down by each part of the claim.

◆

1. “AI data centers are draining the U.S. grid faster than it can be rebuilt.”

(Supported, with nuance.)

Multiple authoritative sources confirm that AI-driven data center growth is outpacing the speed at which utilities can expand generation and transmission:

• The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issued a Level 3 alert—its highest warning—citing “significant risks” to grid reliability from large data centers and AI loads.

• POWER Magazine reports that power availability has become the limiting factor for where and how fast hyperscale AI data centers can be built, because these facilities now require 300–600 MW each, comparable to a mid-sized city.

• Forbes notes that regions like Northern Virginia and Texas are hitting capacity limits, with utilities struggling to keep up with demand.

Conclusion: The grid is not literally being “drained,” but demand from AI data centers is growing faster than grid infrastructure can be expanded, creating real constraints*.

[*So?  They're NOT crying wolf?🐺]

◆

2. “Utilities are warning of shortages.”

(Supported.)

• Utility CEOs in Texas*, the Midwest, and Virginia have publicly warned that AI-related load growth is straining capacity.

• Grid operators in Texas, the Great Plains, and the mid-Atlantic region project major electricity demand spikes driven largely by data centers.

• NERC’s Level 3 alert itself is a formal warning of potential reliability shortfalls.

Conclusion: Yes — utilities and grid monitors are issuing explicit warnings.

[*Really? I live in Texas, and the ads I see on TV practically say data centers were sent from God! The Texas data centers offer high-paying jobs and are used to run systems that keep our schools and streets safe. Any idea how many mass shootings we've had at schools in Texas?]

◆

3. “Federal agencies are fast-tracking permits.”

(Partially supported.)

While the statement is directionally correct, the evidence is more nuanced:

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 2023, which streamlines interconnection processes and accelerates timelines for connecting new generation and large loads. This indirectly helps data centers by speeding up the clean energy projects they depend on.

• Grid operators and regulators have formed special task forces to accelerate large load interconnections.

Conclusion: Federal agencies are taking steps to accelerate permitting and interconnection, though the phrase “fast tracking permits” is a simplification.

[*Fast-tracking? Under the Trump administration? Why am I not surprised?]

◆

4. “Big Tech is scrambling to lock up turbines, pipelines, and baseload power just to keep their AI systems alive.”

(Supported in spirit, though phrased dramatically.)

Evidence shows that major tech companies are aggressively securing dedicated power sources:

• Some developers are contracting directly with private power producers or installing on-site natural gas generators because grid capacity is insufficient.

• Utilities and developers are turning to natural gas and nuclear to provide 24/7 baseload power for AI data centers.

• Exxon and Chevron have announced plans to enter the power supply market specifically to serve data centers, including natural gas-powered generation.

Conclusion: Big Tech and energy companies are indeed racing to secure* reliable baseload power, though the imagery of “scrambling” is rhetorical.

[*Seems like Big Tech and energy companies are always racing to secure their “power”. What do they care? They're moving to Mars. Right?]

◆◆

Overall Assessment

The WD statement is directionally accurate and substantially supported by current reporting, though it uses dramatic language. Here is a summary of the VERIFIED FACTS:

• AI data center demand is growing extremely fast.

• Grid capacity is struggling to keep up.

• Utilities and regulators are issuing warnings and accelerating processes.

• Tech companies are securing dedicated energy sources, including gas and potentially nuclear.

The only part that is somewhat overstated is the implication* of a federal emergency–style “fast track,” but federal and regional regulators are accelerating interconnection and permitting reforms.

[*I used to work for the federal government. Based on my real work experience, I'm inclined to believe the “implication” is SPOT ON! When you're assessing anything being done by the federal government and the US military, ALWAYS IMAGINE THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO. If it turns out not to be how you imagined, you'll breathe a sigh of relief.]

***

SOURCES/REFERENCES:

►► AI Data Centers Straining the Grid

Baker, Mike. “Data Centers Are Gobbling Up America’s Electricity.” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024.
Nicas, Jack. “The A.I. Boom Could Use a Lot of Power. How Green Will It Be?” The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024.

►► Utility Warnings and Grid Reliability Alerts

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). 2023–2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment. NERC, Dec. 2023.
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). NERC Issues Level 3 Alert on Large Load Interconnection. NERC, 2024.

►► Federal Agencies Accelerating Permitting / Interconnection

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Order No. 2023: Improvements to Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements. FERC, 2023.
Eisen, Joel B., and Emily Hammond. “FERC’s New Interconnection Rules Aim to Speed Up Clean Energy Deployment.” Harvard Environmental Law Review, 2023.

► ► Big Tech Securing Turbines, Pipelines, and Baseload Power

Meyer, Robinson. “Big Tech’s Next Big Energy Play.” Heatmap News, 2024.
Sorkin, Andrew Ross. “Tech Giants Are Buying Up Power to Feed A.I.” The New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024.
DiChristopher, Tom. “Exxon and Chevron Plan to Supply Power to Data Centers.” CNBC, 22 Jan. 2024.

► ► Regional Grid Constraints (Virginia, Texas, Midwest)

Sverdlik, Yevgeniy. “Northern Virginia’s Data Center Boom Is Running Out of Power.” Data Center Knowledge, 2023.
Malik, Naureen. “Texas Grid Strains Under Data Center and Crypto Mining Demand.” Bloomberg, 2024.

It's not just Texas and Virginia.  Georgia and Nevada are also having problems.  There very likely will be more!  

***

NOTE:  As I stated earlier, a lot of tech talk goes over my head.  So the research was done, and this content was prepared using a free Microsoft AI tool. The notes marked [*...] are just ME (not AI), just babbling to myself. 😟

Interesting Reading. What Are 'Guardian' Apps?

 The beauty of social media posts is the other "voices" that are NOT in my head.  Many account holders freely share their thoughts and also share links to insightful articles.  We, or at least me ... I have already accepted that AI (artificial intelligence) is here to stay NOW!  So the next step is to try to keep up!  I am active on Bluesky, and someone shared a link to this article:

‘Guardian’ Apps Aim to Stop AI Agents From Going Rogue — The Information

(Image credit: Featured image in the article referenced.)

QUICK SUMMARY: Several AI companies are developing “guardian” or “safety” apps designed to monitor and control increasingly autonomous AI agents. As AI systems gain the ability to take actions on computers—such as browsing the web, sending emails, or executing code—researchers worry these agents could behave unpredictably or cause harm if not supervised. 

New tools from startups and major labs aim to track an agent’s actions in real time, block dangerous behavior, and provide audit trails for accountability. The piece highlights that while these guardrails are promising, they are still in their early stages and may struggle to keep pace with rapidly advancing agent capabilities.

Overall, the article frames these guardian systems as an essential but evolving layer of protection as AI becomes more autonomous.

But What About ...?

OK! Sounds like a wonderful “theory”. But we all know AI can only be used for good if the human mind or HI (human intelligence) using it … is not already corrupted. Care to follow me down this rabbit hole? 

I want to share a link to a Sherlock Holmes mystery (probably AI-generated). Sherlock said, “Someone is teaching the computer to ignore crime.” 

They say, "To err is human.  To forgive divine."  Well, maybe errors can be forgiven.  But what about CRIMES?  Imagine if law enforcement ignored crime because of AI?

Whispering Willows Sleep. “Sherlock Holmes and the Algorithm of Doubt.” YouTube, 31 Dec. 2025.

I do my best to stay informed and up-to-date about the use of AI in our world, and also share my thoughts or perspectives.  Follow on Bluesky.

Are You Ready to Trust Dr. AI? (My Answer to This Question)

Kshitija(KJ) Gupte published an article via Medium.com titled "Are we ready to put our health in the hands of Dr. AI?". It is an excellent read. After reading I left a few comments.  When it comes to the use of AI by members of the healthcare profession, almost everybody has thoughts about this topic.  My thoughts shared at the article are also published below.  I would like my comments with my JDV blog visitors, who don't visit the Medium platform. 

AI-generated Image by Abd Karim Alias from Pixabay

I don't have any problem with "Dr. AI". The technology is not the problem. The misuse and abuse of technology is the problem.

And who can misuse and abuse technology? HUMANS!

So it all boils down to whether or not people in the healthcare profession have ethics and morals, mercy and compassion ... i.e. humanity.

Because all the technology in the world can't replace the mind of a person who is dishonest and has no integrity. Whether they use AI or not, you're putting your health in their hands.

The thing is ... you can't always spot a doctor who is disguised as “Dr. Death”, who is misdiagnosing you intentionally, to make merchandise out of you.

Several years ago, I lived in a US city where there was an article in the newspaper about doctors who were deliberately misdiagnosing patients, making them sicker, and then re-diagnosing them (after their condition had worsened) so that they could continue to treat them for a longer period of time. Why cure your patient on their first visit, when you can keep them coming back over and over again? Disgusting isn't it? Sad, but true.

Artificial intelligence is just a tool to be used in conjunction with human intelligence.

But nobody has figured out how to program the intelligence of a person to be a DECENT HUMAN BEING!!

***

As a member of the Medium.com writing community (view my writer's profile), not only do I enjoy writing content but I also enjoy reading and commenting on the articles of my fellow writers.

Does Jack Have Plans to Chop Down the Twitter Beanstalk? (An Opinion Piece)

The same day Elon Musk became the new owner of Twitter, it was announced that Jack Dorsey was developing a social app called Bluesky. What’s going on?

As expected, wherever tech news is published for the inquiring minds, one will find a mountain of speculation and also some facts about whether or not there is a war going on between the “giants” in the industry. Since October 28, 2022, there has been a lot of buzz circulating about Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey. Or is it … Elon Musk VERSUS Jack Dorsey???

Some think these two are NOT competitors but rather collaborators. I don’t know what these two guys are thinking, but I am inclined to agree with the gentleman who wrote article shared below. I doubt that there is a battle going in the land of the tech giants, which will end with one toppling the other. Oh, come on! This is American business. What profit or public good would be gained from doing that?

No, Elon and Jack are not “competitors.” They’re collaborating.

Wherein I attempt to clarify a number of ridiculous and false narratives currently taking hold about Musk and Dorsey’s…

davetroy.medium.com

HERE IS WHAT I THINK:

Dorsey and Musk are collaborating? So??? They are not “enemies”, they’re really “frenemies”? Uh huh. Sounds plausible.

Not surprised. It’s very likely a lot of that buzz about the alleged battle of the tech giants is unverified. No doubt it’s more like “gossip of endless possibilities” spread in panic mode. LOL.

Since I don’t know either of the guys personally, I can only base my likes and dislikes on their public persona. Based on that, I like Jack. I don’t like Elon.

That being said, I could care less whether they are competing or not competing. I want whatever is in IT for me! LOL. I am perfectly content to use both platforms whether they compete or not.

GOOGLE PLUS: I remember Google Plus. It was supposed to replace Facebook. I was invited to participate in the testing and when it went live, I used the same account that had been used in testing. I happily used both Facebook and Google Plus together. But alas! G+ went Bye Bye for consumers.

TUMBLR: And what about Tumblr? I have been a loyal user since the days of David Karp. Tumblr has changed ownership many times. But no matter to me. I just go with the flow.

TWITTER vs BLUESKY: I have been a loyal Twitter user for years. Even so, I sent my eMail in so that I could participate in Bluesky social app testing. If it goes live, I see no reason to leave Twitter and switch to Bluesky. Not me! I would be active on both platforms as long as they will have me.

The only thing that would stop me from using Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Tumbr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc., is if I wake up one morning and there is a page that says: “This platform has been shut down.”

I mean … what can I do about that? It was an executive decision made without asking me! They never invite me to those meetings. LOL.

I have been on the social media train for over 10 years. The only decision I can make is … I’m not getting OFF!

Thanks for reading. 

 Original Source

Just an Observation and Opinion About the Future of Bitcoin (and Cryptocurrency in General)

To be clear:  I am not offering financial advice. I am not financial professional or expert and especially not an expert on the future of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin was introduced to the world in 2009. I started following cryptocurrency ~ the world of virtual currency, digital currency, altcoins, etc. ~ in 2017. This is just an observation and an opinion. I am sharing this post as an “historical marker” on the off chance my prediction turns out to be correct. 

Janet Yellen is the first female US Treasury Secretary;  she is highly respected and she offered this assertion regards bitcoin.

"Yellen previously asserted that the rise of the crypto industry had increased the risks of vulnerabilities as criminals tend to employ them for illicit actions." 

Quote Source: US Secretary of Treasure Yellen Says Bitcoin is Inefficient for Transactions 

Uh huh.

With respect to the honorable lady. Show me a criminal, show me a legit monetary system AND I'll show a criminal trying to exploit that system for their illicit actions to "launder transactions" and make their criminal activity look legit! THEY'RE CRIMINALS! IT'S WHAT THEY DO!!

I need a better excuse than that to NOT have hope that BTC (Bitcoin), BCH Bitcoin Cash) (or altcoins or cryptocurrency in general) have a future as a legitimate currency! The Medici Family didn't let anybody talk them down!

REFERENCE POINT: 

~ History of Currency: Do you know what the “florin” was?

At one point, the Medicis managed most of the great fortunes in the European world, from members of royalty to merchants. There was even a time when the currency issued by the Medicis, the florin, was accepted and used throughout Europe as the preferred currency to conduct business, commerce and trade. (Source: Wikipedia)

Original Source

In the Year 2070 Will People Be Asking ~ What's Google? (O.o)

Since reading the book and seeing the movie “1984” and living through the late Prince’s hit song “1999” ( Party Like It’s 1999 ), and wondering why Justin Bieber thought it would be cool to “ party like it’s 3012 ” (What’s going to happen in 3012??) … I have come to realize that futuristic books and movies need to project way way way out into the future.

.
Like if you’re in 2020, instead of predicting what technology will be in 2070 (the next 50 years), you should probably predict what it will be like in the year 2520 (the next 500 years).

That way nobody is still alive like me to say … “Yeah! Uhh … that 1984 scenario? 1984 came and went! Big Brother didn’t happen! … Also, 1999 came and went. It wasn’t the party of the century!”
There is an article by eMarketer dated 2017 which reveals the results of a survey which asks the question:

• Will People Still Be Googling in 50 Years?

Of course, those who responded to the Survey said: YES!.
♦
But 50 Years? That’s not a future prediction. In terms of technology, 50 years is like the blink of an eye. The question should have been:

• In 500 years, will people still know what Google is?

It doesn’t matter what the answer to the survey is because in 500 years not one person who answered the question will be around to say … “I remember when …”

Just a random thought.

Source: Virily.com