So far, generating companies have come out on top.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing not only the technology sector but also the entire American energy landscape. Against the backdrop of a sharp increase in the number of data centers, companies — from IT giants to automakers — have begun to massively invest in the production, storage, and distribution of electricity, Axios reports.
As the publication notes, the needs of AI have become the main driver of the new energy boom. The enormous computing power required for training and operating neural networks demands increasing amounts of electricity, turning energy into a strategic asset for businesses.
"Everyone, to some extent, either depends on energy as a key resource or sees it as a huge opportunity," said Brian Janus, co-founder of data center developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure, to Axios.
According to Axios, investors are actively pouring money into companies capable of supplying energy to AI infrastructure.
Automaker Ford Motor Company announced earlier this month its entry into the energy storage market for data centers and large electricity consumers. The company has created a subsidiary, Ford Energy, explaining this by the "massive demand for internal energy storage systems." Following the announcement, Ford's stock rose to a three-year high.
Other companies related to the energy supply of AI infrastructure have also shown sharp growth. Shares of Bloom Energy, which develops autonomous energy supply systems, have increased by more than 1200% over the past year.
Geothermal company Fervo Energy, previously considered a niche climate startup, saw a significant increase in value after going public — investors expect that new energy sources will help power data centers.
GE Vernova's energy division received orders for data center equipment worth $2.4 billion in just the first quarter — more than for the entire previous year.
Andy Power, president and head of data center operator Digital Realty, told Axios that most people are still unaware of the scale of AI's energy needs.
"The energy behind artificial intelligence is invisible to most people, but its scale is enormous," he noted.
According to Power, utility companies are already overwhelmed with applications for new capacity connections for data centers and are forced to sort projects by feasibility.
However, along with the investment boom, risks are also rising. Axios writes that resistance to data center construction in the U.S. is increasing, and some projects may never be realized.
According to Heatmap Pro, the number of canceled data center projects reached a record level in the first quarter of this year. The total volume of frozen investments exceeded $40 billion.
Local residents' main complaints are related to high water consumption, noise, and air pollution.
Against this backdrop, major tech companies — Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta Platforms — have begun collaborating with the organization Elemental Impact to develop technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of data centers. This includes new cooling systems, energy storage solutions, and low-carbon construction materials.
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