The United States is experiencing an unprecedented surge in power demand as data center, AI and crypto technologies are expanding. The need for reliable and sustainable energy sources has become more pressing as these facilities require significant amounts of energy at all times. With AI driving innovation and increased energy consumption, it is imperative that the nation continues to invest in clean energy solutions to ensure reliability and to meet the unprecedented growing demand. The result of this investment is jobs across the chain for the industry, economic development in the communities we serve, and much needed upgrades to our infrastructure.
The Growth of Clean Energy
Driven by the near-term demand for inexpensive and available generation sources, clean energy is growing in the United States. Renewables now account for nearly 25% of the energy mix in the United States, a figure that continues to rise as investments pour into the sector. The pace of renewable capacity installations is forecasted to double between 2024 and 20301. Solar projects in the US hit record breaking years in 2023 and 2024 and accounted for 66% of all new generating capacity in 2024.3
Globally, renewable electricity generation is forecast to climb to over 17 000 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030, likely accounting for half of the global energy generation. Investment in electric power surpassed other energy projects in 2019, and the gap continues to widen.2.
The competitive costs of renewable energy technologies, combined with the long-term savings on fuel and maintenance, make clean energy an economically viable and attractive option for meeting the near and long-term growing power demands. As technology continues to advance, the efficiency of these power sources will only improve, further driving down costs and making clean energy more accessible and immediately available at scale and across the country. The U.S. needs to take a strong “all of the above” approach to generation deployment of which renewables and clean power are positioned to meet this moment of need.
The Role of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are also playing a crucial role in the growth and stability of the renewable energy sector. These long-term contracts between energy producers and consumers guarantee that a predetermined amount of energy will be purchased at a fixed price. By providing financial certainty and stability, PPAs have encouraged investment in renewable energy projects and support their long-term viability.
PPAs mitigate the financial risks associated with renewable energy projects by ensuring a stable revenue stream for energy producers. This predictability attracts investors and lenders, who are more likely to fund projects with guaranteed returns. Consequently, PPAs drive the development of new renewable energy facilities, contributing to the overall expansion of the sector.
Supporting Demand
On the buyers’ side, PPAs offer businesses and organizations a reliable and cost-effective source of renewable energy. By locking in energy prices for the duration of the contract, buyers can hedge against future price fluctuations and reduce their exposure to volatile energy markets while also contributing to their sustainability or clean energy commitments. This investment is particularly valuable for large energy buyers, such as data centers and industrial facilities.
PPAs also help facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the power grid. By providing a guaranteed market for renewable energy, PPAs encourage the development of infrastructure needed to support renewable energy generation. This includes investments in grid enhancements, energy storage solutions, and smart grid technologies that improve the efficiency and reliability of energy distribution.
The Role of AI in Power Demand
Cloud computing and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to exponential growth and increasing power demand in the United States. AI technologies can require significant computational power, leading to higher energy consumption. Data centers, which are the backbone of AI operations, consume vast amounts of electricity to process and store data. As AI applications expand across industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, the demand for power will continue to grow. Each of the major players within the space, are driving towards gaining their own competitive advantage over one another in a race to deploy much needed DC (direct current) capacity, thus driving forecasted and confirmed load growth to unprecedented levels.
Optimizing Energy Use with AI
While AI contributes to the rising power demand, it also offers solutions for optimizing energy use. AI can be employed to enhance the efficiency of renewable energy systems, predict energy consumption patterns, and manage power distribution. By leveraging AI, the clean energy sector can maximize its potential and ensure that the power grid operates at optimal levels.
Diversifying the Energy Grid
Designing better and more efficient power sources is essential for diversifying the energy grid. A diversified grid reduces the risk of over-reliance on a single energy source and enhances the overall resilience of the power system. Clean energy provides a balanced mix of power that meets the varying demands and at a rapid pace in the very near-term. Integrating renewable energy into the existing power grid requires careful planning and coordination by key stakeholders.
Advances in energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, are critical for managing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. By storing excess energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak times, these technologies ensure a steady and reliable supply of power. These technological advancements improve the grid to be smarter and more diversified, so that it can meet the increasing load growth.
Collaboration to Meet Energy Demand
The successful deployment of clean energy projects requires collaboration among hundreds of stakeholders. Landowners, local government agencies and regulators, partner companies, technology suppliers, and the buyers, either utilities or corporate purchasers, must work together to achieve the growing demand for clean energy solutions. Policy incentives, technological advancements, and public awareness are essential components in driving towards a reliable and sustainable energy future. Education, outreach and community engagement programs help raise awareness about the vast number of benefits that these projects bring.
Local Impacts of Clean Energy Projects
Renewable energy projects have far-reaching economic impacts on communities, fostering local development and job creation. These projects stimulate the local economies by generating employment opportunities in construction, maintenance, and operations of renewable energy facilities. Additionally, they often require support services such as engineering, legal, and management roles, further diversifying the job market and resulting in significant direct, indirect and induced benefits, oftentimes in rural areas of the United States which often have less access to diversified jobs and industries of growth.
In rural areas, utility-scale renewable energy projects provide a stable source of income for farmers and landowners through leases and royalties for land use. The integration of renewable energy into local grids also leads to energy resilience, ensuring that communities have access to reliable and affordable power, which is crucial for economic stability and growth. Working with local communities is paramount to the success of a project as each community has unique needs and concerns for which these investments have proven impactful to provide updated school buildings or local services, ability to invest in teaching staff and curriculum, or even supporting local sports and activities for the next generation growing up in these communities.
The Path Forward
The demand for power generation in the United States presents both challenges and opportunities. We will need all available technologies to meet demand and achieve the energy transition. A balanced energy mix is essential to ensuring the flexibility and efficiency of the energy system. By embracing renewable, clean energy and leveraging the potential of AI, the nation can ensure a sustainable and resilient energy future.
As the demand for energy continues to rise, the importance of investing in and supporting renewable energy cannot be overstated. Together, we can build a future where clean energy powers our homes, businesses, and industries, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable tomorrow.
Sources:
1. Renewables 2024 – Analysis – IEA
2. Economic Growth Now Depends on Electricity, Not Oil – WSJ
3. Solar Market Insight Report 2024 Year in Review – SEIA
4. World Energy Outlook 2024 – Analysis – IEA
5. EnergyConnects.com
6. US National Power Demand Study – 2025
7. www.IEA.org
8. www.bcse.org
9. USSMI-2024 YIR-Executive Summary
