Powering Intelligence 2026: U.S. Data Center Electricity Scenarios

The 2026 White Paper 'Powering Intelligence 2026' presents updated scenarios for U.S. data center electricity use and power strategies through 2030. EPRI projects data centers will consume 9% to 17% of U.S. electricity by 2030, up from 4-5% today, driven by AI workloads which account for 15-25% of current data center electricity and are rising rapidly. Three growth scenarios (Low, Medium, High) are developed using commercial project data, with revised projections about 60% higher than previous estimates due to record development over the past 18 months. State-level load growth varies widely, with Virginia currently the only state where data centers consume over 20% of electricity, potentially reaching 39-57% by 2030. Energy procurement strategies significantly impact generation buildout: least-cost approaches favor natural gas, while hourly-matched carbon-free energy favors renewables and batteries. Supply bottlenecks, permitting delays, and transmission constraints could strain additions. Accelerated collaboration among developers, utilities, policymakers, and communities is essential to support growth and transform data centers into grid assets.