AI Data Centers Raise Winter Blackout Risks: What NERC’s 2025–26 Warning Means for Texas, Michigan and the Rest of the US
Federal grid regulators warn that AI data center growth is driving winter electricity demand to record highs, with peak demand projected to rise by about 20 gigawatts over last year. NERC’s 2025–26 Winter Reliability Assessment finds new resources lagging behind demand, raising the risk of supply shortfalls in Texas, the Southeast, New England, and parts of the West if a severe cold snap hits.