US electricity demand, flat for a decade, is reversing as data centers force energy executives to rank power sources by reliability.
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Energy executives rank 4 power sources as data centers reshape US grid
US electricity demand, flat for a decade, is reversing as data centers force energy executives to rank power sources by reliability.
Energy executives rank natural gas and nuclear as the most reliable power sources for data centers, with renewables trailing on intermittency, a Forbes survey shows.
"Natural gas offers the fastest path to meet data center demand, while nuclear provides the baseload stability that hyperscalers require," one utility executive surveyed by Forbes said.
The survey asked executives to assess power sources across speed-to-market, reliability, cost and regulatory feasibility. Natural gas ranked highest on speed, nuclear on reliability, and solar-plus-storage on cost — though intermittency concerns pushed renewables lower in the overall ranking.
The rankings reflect a structural shift in US electricity markets. After a decade of flat demand, data center buildout is projected to add tens of gigawatts of new load by 2030, equivalent to the power consumption of several major metropolitan areas.
Permitting Reform Looms
The survey comes as lawmakers face an August recess deadline to pass bipartisan permitting reform, according to lobbyists tracking the legislation. Without streamlined approval for transmission and generation projects, executives said the grid cannot keep pace with data center connection requests.
Sector Winners
Natural gas producers and nuclear operators stand to benefit most from the demand wave, the survey showed. Utilities with existing gas fleets and nuclear plants are signing long-term power purchase agreements with hyperscalers. Renewable developers face headwinds unless paired with battery storage, which adds cost.
The survey shows data center power demand will drive a multi-year investment cycle in US generation and transmission. Investors should watch the August permitting reform deadline and upcoming utility rate cases tied to data center interconnection agreements.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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