Utilities might be slightly over-hyping the data center boom, according to a new reality check from Grid Strategies. (Utility Dive)
The discrepancy: Utilities currently project 90 GW of new data center load by 2030, but independent analysts peg it closer to 65 GW—likely because tech companies are “ghost booking” multiple sites (to keep options open) while only planning to build one.
The “mind-blowing” math: The report found utilities are assuming new load will run at a nearly impossible 96% load factor. Grid Strategies VP John Wilson calls that “unrealistic,” noting that even AI factories need downtime for maintenance.
The verdict: Even if the numbers are padded, the wave is still huge—Wilson admits we are still looking at ~140 GW of growth, though supply chain delays might push the “2030” targets into the early 2030s.