There is a lot of talk these days about how the artificial intelligence (AI) boom will revolutionize the economy. The electric power sector is no exception. All over the country, tech companies are developing hyperscale data centers to provide the computing power necessary for cloud-based services, large language model training, and other AI applications. These facilities consume an enormous amount of power—some even more than large cities or even entire states. In many areas, meeting this demand requires utilities to invest significant capital into new transmission lines and power plants.
