The Growing Demand for AI—and the Energy Crisis No One's Talking About

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a tech trend anymore—it’s a full-blown cultural shift. From chatbots and image generators to automation in almost every industry, AI is already embedded in our daily lives. According to Statista, AI in the U.S. is expected to grow at a 26.95% annual rate, making it one of the largest expanding markets in the country.

In fact, a survey from Elon University (no, not Musk) found that over 52% of U.S. adults are now using large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude regularly. So the question isn’t whether demand for AI is growing—it clearly is. The better question might be: Are we ready for what it means?

AI's Hidden Cost: Electricity

AI doesn’t run on magic. It runs on massive amounts of power—mostly consumed by energy-hungry data centers that keep these models trained, updated, and operating 24/7.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that global AI electricity demand will double to around 945 TWh by 2030. That includes an estimated 88 TWh of growth from the U.S. alone.

So what does that even mean in real-world terms?

Let’s Talk NFL Stadiums

Imagine powering all 30 NFL stadiums (yes, there are 32 teams—let’s not split hairs) for 5 hours each at their peak power usage of 10 MW. That’s about 50 MWh per stadium. Do that for all 30 stadiums simultaneously, and you’re at 1,500 MWh total.

To meet the projected AI energy demand, you’d need the equivalent of 58,667 games happening at once. Or, to stretch the metaphor even further, it’s the same as powering 215 full NFL seasons—every game, every team.

At that point, the Broncos and even the Cowboys better have won a Super Bowl or two, right?

So... Where’s That Energy Going to Come From?

AI is advancing whether we’re ready or not. That means America must prepare for the energy surge it will require. But slashing clean energy incentives, stalling solar and wind development, and making renewable access harder? That’s not going to cut it.

The only real solution is to grow energy production capacity, not shrink it.

America Needs to Power Up—Not Power Down

Whether we like it or not, the future is digital. And if we want AI to be part of it, we’re going to need to support the infrastructure that powers it. That includes:

• Expanding renewable energy production (solar, wind, hydro)

• Modernizing our electrical grid

• Holding leaders accountable for sustainable energy policies

• Fighting for continued access and funding for clean energy tech

This is a national issue, and it’s going to affect all of us—residentially, commercially, and economically.

Let’s not take a step backward. Let’s step forward, fully aware of the electricity demand AI is bringing, and prepared to meet it with the power of smart energy choices.