Artificial Intelligence is a power-hungry technology.
It is estimated that AI data centers across the globe will need an additional 14 gigawatts of new power by 2030.
For perspective, one gigawatt could power roughly 800,000 homes for an entire year.
The immense power needs of AI technology — like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini — have grown so fast that Utah lawmakers are fearful of keeping up.
“This world seems to be moving very, very fast,” Republican Rep. Steven Lund said during a Nov. 20 interim session of the Legislature.
State leaders announced Operation Gigawatt in October in response to the looming demand. The goal is to double the state’s power generation capacity in the next 10 years. Gov. Spencer Cox called the initiative “critical to preserving our quality of life and ensuring strong economic growth.”
Read the full story at KUER.org.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.
