Fossil generation could rise with faster-than-expected growth in data center power demand ›

Electricity demand has been rising steadily since 2020 after more than a decade of little change. Between 2020 and 2025, U.S. electricity demand, as measured by net energy for load, grew about 1.7% annually compared with 0.1% annual growth between 2005 and 2019. Electricity use by data centers is driving the electricity demand growth. Continued development of these large computing facilities and growth from expanded industrial use of electricity are likely to continue driving growth in U.S. electricity demand in the near term. In this analysis, we explore the potential impact of faster-than-expected electricity demand growth, while assuming the same future generating capacity as the February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). More ›

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, February 2026