AI data centers now consume 29.6 gigawatts of power globally, according to the Stanford HAI AI Index 2026 — and that number is growing fast. Utilities worldwide are planning a combined $1.4 trillion in grid upgrades over the next five years to meet projected demand. In the US, power companies are fast-tracking new transmission lines, substations, and generation capacity, with AI-driven consumption now rivaling the electricity appetite of entire mid-sized countries. Critics warn that much of the near-term generation will come from natural gas peaker plants, raising climate concerns. Some operators, including Microsoft and Google, have committed to matching consumption with renewable energy certificates, though the accounting is disputed.