Rethinking Load Growth in US Power Systems

In this virtual briefing on Feb. 19, 2025, three Duke University experts discussed their national-scale analysis of how the existing US power system can accommodate data centers and other large new loads without requiring major generation and transmission expansion. US energy regulators face challenges in meeting the escalating electricity demands of data centers used to power artificial intelligence, as well as other new large energy loads. Yet the recent release of DeepSeek, a seemingly more energy-efficient AI model, puts counterpressure on regulators not to overinvest in new power generation and transmission infrastructure in case energy demand falls short of forecasts. During the webinar, Tyler Norris and Dalia Patiño-Echeverri (Nicholas School of the Environment) and Tim Profeta (Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability) talk about the study's key findings and the implications for connecting large loads to the grid. MORE: Read the full report: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/pu... Check out key takeaways: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/ar... Get email updates from the Nicholas Institute to learn about events like this one: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/ne...