AI Data Centers Drive 4% US Power Demand Growth

Bernstein Societe Generale Group projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow at a 4% compound annual growth rate through 2030. This surge represents approximately 1,000 terawatt-hours of incremental demand between 2025 and 2030, marking a significant shift from previous trends where power demand lagged behind overall GDP growth.

Artificial intelligence data center construction is expected to drive more than half of this new load. The research firm forecasts that data center IT load capacity will expand from 34 gigawatts in 2025 to 149 gigawatts by 2030. Other contributing factors include the adoption of electric vehicles, the use of heat pumps, and industrial reshoring.

To meet this rising demand and offset the retirement of coal plants, the report identifies solar PV and natural gas as the primary supply additions. The strategy also includes restarting nuclear plants at facilities such as Duane Arnold, Palisades, and Three Mile Island.