CenterPoint Reports 700% Spike in Texas AI-Data Center Requests
- Utility says Houston queue tops 8 gigawatts of electricity
- Massive demand growth would be added to already strained grid
Data center construction from some of the world’s largest tech companies is poised to accelerate electricity-demand growth already on the rise.
Photographer: Jasmin Merdan/Moment/Getty Images
CenterPoint Energy Inc. has seen a 700% increase in requests from data center developers to connect to its Houston-area utility within months.
The Greater Houston’s utility’s queue from data centers now tops 8 gigawatts, up from 1 gigawatts before summer, CenterPoint Chief Executive Officer Jason Wells said on an earnings call with analysts Monday. The company confirmed via emailed responses that this planned development is located entirely around Houston, Texas’ largest city, and facilities supporting artificial intelligence are likely the leading cause of the increase.