Trump and the AI Power Boom Are Putting Utility Climate Goals at Risk
Some US utilities say rising demand from data centers means fossil fuels will be needed for longer
Republican control of the White House and Congress will shift US energy policy away from decarbonization goals, according to a report this month from energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergBig US utilities’ climate goals are in peril as artificial intelligence turbocharges electricity demand and Donald Trump’s reelection signals policy shifts that would favor fossil fuels.
These companies all have ambitious targets to cut their carbon emissions, most often to reach “net-zero” by 2050. But the surprising growth in power consumption led by data centers, combined with Republican electoral victories, has some utilities delaying the retirement of coal-burning plants and planning a massive buildout of natural gas generation.