electricity

Power utilities are looking for ways to make sure ratepayers don’t bear the cost of hooking data centers to the grid.

The need for energy storage is increasing as electricity demand rises rapidly in the U.S., with one estimate from the Solar Energy Industries Association expecting the battery market to grow by 21% this year.

Communities across the U.S. are fighting to buy back investor-owned utilities.

Utilities across the country are investing in upgrades, and the cost is often passed on to consumers. In some places, utilities are increasing capacity for data centers, but elsewhere they're responding to the risk of wildfires and other natural disasters.

The U.S. energy market has a “natural” monopoly system.

In 2025, global investments in electricity are expected to be roughly 50% more than what’s spent on bringing coal, natural gas and oil to market, per recent analysis by the International Energy Agency.

The Trump administration reportedly plans to cut the program, just as electricity demand is rising in the United States due to the rise in data centers and AI.

Natural gas could play a role in the green energy transition, but additional natural transmission pipelines are critical to meet growing electricity demand.

Emerging economies will account for 85% of the growth. Data centers and electric vehicles will also boost demand in richer countries.

Journalist Mya Frazier wrote about sequoia-sized electric power poles, farmland price inflation and the impact on communities.