Concerns being raised about the electricity demands from AI data centers

As the state of Illinois moves to mothball coal plants and transition to renewable energy, there are concerns that artificial intelligence data centers could be a drag on the power grid.

The subject came up Tuesday during an Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee hearing.

The Great Lakes region is an increasingly desired spot for data centers because of the availability of water and its cooler climate that reduces energy demand.

Clean energy advocates in the Midwest say data centers pose both a risk and an opportunity, as they can put major stress on the grid, but also facilitate significant renewable energy investment. Illinois Commerce Commission Executive Director Jonathan Feipel said the state should not have to steer away from its clean energy goals from the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA).

“We hear a lot from different sectors that the only solution here is to walk back the CEJA decarbonization goals,” said Feipel. “I don’t feel like we are in that place today.”

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, then asked Feipel if there is enough energy currently to run the data centers along with homes and businesses.

“With the former coal generation plants that are going to mothball because of the legislation, what is the reason you say it is not time to roll those initiatives back,” said Halbrook.

“Let me put it this way, if we all sat and did nothing then we would have a significant problem when we get to 2030,” said Feipel.

Feipel said the state needs to develop additional sources of renewable energy and efficiency programs.

U.S. energy provider Exelon has calculated that power demand from data centers in the Chicago area is set to explode, and AI adoption will put a further strain on electricity supplies.