The insatiable demand for computing power to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions is driving an unprecedented expansion of data centers across the United States, with electricity consumption projected to skyrocket. If all permitted data centers come online by 2025, they could consume between 224.3 and 358.8 terawatt-hours annually—an increase of up to 50% over previous levels. At the midpoint, this would exceed the annual electricity usage of every U.S. state except Texas.
Hyperscale Expansion
The surge in power demand is largely driven by hyperscale data centers, facilities that consume 40 megawatts or more each. Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and QTS are leading the charge. For example, Amazon’s planned 14-building complex in Ridgeland, Mississippi, would transform nearly 800 acres of rural woodland, while Microsoft’s nine-building facility in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, would cover an area nearly the size of New York City’s Central Park.
'They’re going to take our finite resources,' said Kansas farmer Kaitlyn Gruenbacher. 'And what are we getting in return?'
Local Backlash
The rapid expansion has sparked widespread opposition from local communities and officials. In Sedgwick County, Kansas, residents fear data centers could threaten the Equus Beds Aquifer, essential for crop irrigation and drinking water, while driving up electricity costs and displacing multigenerational farming families. Gruenbacher, whose family has farmed the land for three generations, described the proposed data center near her property as a threat to her way of life.
Critics argue that the economic benefits of these facilities often fail to outweigh the environmental and community costs. With data centers emerging as a key issue in the 2024 midterms, lawmakers who support their development may face voter backlash. The debate underscores the tension between technological progress and the preservation of rural communities and resources.