States are falling short on their clean energy goals due to data center boom

# AI's Energy Appetite Is Forcing States to Abandon Clean Energy Plans Data centers powering artificial intelligence are consuming so much electricity that utilities across the country can't meet them without relying on fossil fuels, forcing states to delay or cancel their climate commitments. Nevada's largest utility says it needs triple the power that Las Vegas uses just for proposed data centers, while North Carolina is delaying coal plant shutdowns and other states are scrapping their net-zero goals entirely. The fundamental problem: AI's explosive growth is outpacing the speed at which renewable energy can be built, leaving policymakers choosing between climate goals and powering the technology driving today's economy.