Artificial intelligence is driving a surge in electricity demand that is expanding natural-gas generation and prolonging aging coal operations as wind and solar build-out lags.States including New York, Michigan, Oregon and Minnesota are passing or proposing laws that require large data centers to source rising shares of power from renewables, and New York would reach 90% renewable power for large centers by 2040.Tech companies such as
Google are investing billions in solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and battery storage while regulators in Colorado and Nevada approve programs that let corporate users connect clean projects to the grid, though delays risk locking in more fossil infrastructure.