Artificial Intelligence Runs on Electricity
Like many people, I thought data centers were mostly about buildings. After all, when we hear the term “data center,” we picture a large warehouse full of computers. The bigger the building, the more computers it can hold. That seemed logical enough. But while researching the growing data-center industry, I learned something surprising. The most important thing isn’t necessarily the building. It’s resourcing the electricity needed to run the computers.
Today, companies are racing to build facilities that support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, internet searches, online shopping, streaming services, and countless other digital activities. All those services depend on computers running somewhere, and those computers require enormous amounts of power. Industry experts are increasingly measuring projects not by square footage, but by megawatts, a unit used to measure electrical power.
That got me thinking. Many Texans still remember Winter Storm Uri in 2021. We remember frozen pipes, rolling blackouts, and wondering when the lights would come back on. If our state is already experiencing periods of heavy demand, what happens as more large data centers come online? Electricity isn’t the only resource people are thinking about. Here in Fayette County, many residents depend on groundwater wells, and farmers keep a close eye on rainfall and aquifer conditions. As data centers continue to expand across Texas, questions about water usage and long-term supply are likely to become part of the discussion as well.
To be clear, I am not arguing for or against artificial intelligence. AI is already here and becoming part of everyday life. The more interesting question may be whether our electrical infrastructure can keep pace with the growth. For decades, economic development often centered on roads, railroads, water, and land. Increasingly, electricity is becoming just as important. In some cases, it may be the deciding factor in where major projects are built. Artificial intelligence may seem like digital technology, but behind every AI model are very real power lines, transformers, substations, and power plants This is a large and complicated issue. Next week in Part 2, we’ll look at one of the questions being asked across Texas: Where will all that electricity come from?
Lisa Musick of Praha is a writer, historian and welcomes feedback and questions via email at: lisa@lisamusick.com