Powering AI: Data Centers’ Growing Need for Energy and What it Means for the Grid

Energy demand is increasing as new data centers are constructed to support the growth of AI, cryptocurrency mining, and other cloud services. From the need for new energy generation and transmission lines to questions about who pays for upgrades, local leaders and utilities are facing tough decisions. On July 8, 2025, the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (EPI Center) and the National League of Cities (NLC) hosted an informative webinar on the various types of data centers and how their workloads impact electricity use and power quality, addressing some of the key questions.