AI Boom Sends U.S. Electricity Demand to New High

AI Boom Sends U.S. Electricity Demand to New High By Tsvetana Paraskova - Jul 15, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT U.S. electricity demand is hitting record highs as the AI boom and rapid data center expansion end a decade of stagnant power consumption, with new all-time records expected in 2026 and 2027. Natural gas remains the backbone of the power grid, while solar continues its rapid rise, recently overtaking coal for the first full month and accounting with storage for 91% of new generating capacity added in early 2026. Data centers are becoming the dominant source of electricity demand growth, with power consumption projected to more than double by 2027.