Based on data from Pew Research, in 2024, 4% of the overall electricity in the United States was utilized by data centers. In total, they accounted for approximately 183 terawatt-hours of electricity consumption. Additionally, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute indicates that large data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of fresh water daily — comparable to a community of 10,000 to 50,000 residents. To meet these significant demands, dependable resources are essential, especially in generating the vast amounts of power and electricity required. This necessity led to an unusual decision by the Trump administration to reactivate Three Mile Island, the site of one of the most significant nuclear disasters in the nation’s past. There are already indications that the AI surge may be causing electrical spikes and outages. This situation is likely to deteriorate as more data centers are established and demands increase.
The U.S. Department of Energy, by granting a $1 billion federal loan to Constellation Energy, the operator of Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island facility, approved the plan to reconstruct and reactivate. The plant will be renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center and modified to generate 835 megawatts for the community and Microsoft’s nearby data centers. In 2024, Constellation entered into a 20-year purchasing agreement with Microsoft, committing to restart the reactor to bolster its AI solutions.
According to the DOE, the reactivated facility will supply energy to around 800,000 homes in the vicinity, reduce electricity costs, create over 600 jobs, and enhance the power grid. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright elaborates that it will “offer affordable, reliable, and secure energy to Americans throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.” It will also guarantee that “America has the energy necessary to expand its domestic manufacturing sector and succeed in the AI competition.” This is encouraging news for supporters of AI, at least.
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