Unexpected Surge in US Power Demand Draws Comparison to WWII Era
- Wood Mackenzie says some regions face up to 15% growth by 2029
- Rise in electricity demand will be major challenge for sector
A power substation near a data center in Ashburn, Virginia.
Photographer: Nathan Howard/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Electricity demand in the US is set to soar for the first time in decades, with growth as high as 15% in some regions over the next five years, according to energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.
Different regions will see power demand spikes due to various factors: manufacturing will drive consumption in the Southeast and New York, data centers will push up use in the grid that stretches from Illinois to Virginia, and the electrification of transport and heating will fuel demand in New England, Wood Mackenzie said Thursday in a report. Such a rapid increase in demand will pose “a major challenge” for the industry, the firm said.