Back-to-back heat waves combined with explosive AI data center growth are putting unprecedented strain on the US power grid. PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for much of the East Coast, called on the Department of Energy to intervene as Washington, DC reached a feels-like 104°F and New York hit 100°F. Energy Secretary Chris Wright mandated that data centers activate backup generators within 15 minutes during grid emergencies. Cooling systems can account for roughly 40% of a data center’s total energy consumption, making these facilities hungrier during extreme heat events. This crisis signals a historic shift: US commercial electricity demand is projected to surpass residential demand for the first time in 2026.
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