According to an analysis report by the Financial Times, as tech giants increase their investments in data centers, the U.S. power grid is facing significant pressure. The report indicates that the additional power demand for AI data centers is expected to reach 44 gigawatts (GW) by 2028. However, due to bottlenecks in grid infrastructure, only about 25 GW of new power supply can be activated. This means a gap of approximately 19 GW, accounting for 40% of the total demand.
In this context, major "hyper-scale" companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have planned over $400 billion in investments, primarily for building data centers. OpenAI has signed infrastructure contracts worth up to $1.4 trillion to secure about 28 GW of electricity over the next eight years. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described this energy shortage as a "life-or-death threat," as without sufficient computing power, the company cannot generate revenue or build models at the necessary scale.
The report also mentions that the U.S. power grid infrastructure is struggling to keep up with growing demand due to its aging condition. Many utility poles and transformers date back to the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, bureaucratic procedures are lengthy, with an average waiting time of over eight years from applying for grid connection to commercial operation. Meanwhile, some developers submit multiple applications to different utility companies to gain competitive advantage, further exacerbating the backlog.
To address the power supply issues, more AI companies are turning to "behind-the-gate generation" solutions. For example, Elon Musk's xAI company used unpermitted natural gas turbine generators in its "Colossus" cluster project in Tennessee. OpenAI also plans to use ten natural gas turbines in its "Stargate" project in Texas, while Microsoft plans to obtain power support by restarting the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.
As the U.S. tech industry views its growing demand for electricity as a national security issue, OpenAI pointed out in a letter to the U.S. government that China has gradually taken the lead in infrastructure development. Indeed, in 2024, China added 429 GW of new power capacity, nearly one-third of the entire U.S. grid capacity. In the same period, the U.S. added only 51 GW of power. Environmentalists warn that if the power gap is not resolved, the AI industry may face a bubble burst.
Key Points:
⚡️ By 2028, AI data centers are expected to require 44 GW of additional power, but the grid can only provide 25 GW, leaving a gap of 19 GW.
🏗️ Major tech companies have invested over $400 billion in data center construction, and OpenAI alone signed a $1.4 trillion infrastructure contract.
🌍 As national security issues become more prominent, the U.S. urgently needs to accelerate power infrastructure development to compete with China.
