AI is driving an unprecedented expansion of data centers across the U.S., creating challenges for electric utilities, energy producers, policymakers and communities.
While data centers have long been part of the digital economy, the massive computing power required for AI applications is increasing electricity demand. The International Energy Agency projects global data center electricity consumption could more than double by 2030.
Mines experts stand ready to answer journalists’ questions about data centers.
Our Experts:
Ian Lange
Lange, the Viola Vestal Coulter Chair of Mineral Economics, is an expert on electricity demand and markets. Data center-caused energy price increases are dri-ven by necessary utility investments in electrical generation, transmission and supply chains, Lange says.
“Rapid growth in electricity demand from the AI centers is a boon to energy producers and sellers but understandably concerns consumers who rightfully worry their energy costs will increase,” he said.
Maxwell Brown
Brown, assistant professor of economics and business, is an expert on the power sector, including how electrical grids need to be modified to accommodate the power demands of data centers. Brown can also discuss the role that critical minerals play in data centers, as well as the impact the One Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) has had on the sector.
Iris Bahar
Bahar is a professor and department head of computer science. Bahar focuses on energy-efficient and reliable computing, computer architecture design, and
electronic design automation for integrated circuits. Her work shines a light on the massive power demands, as well as thermal and reliability constraints currently impacting the growth of data centers. Bahar is particularly concerned about the tremendous water consumption used for cooling data centers because of their massive heat generation.
Salman Mohagheghi
Mohagheghi, associate professor of electrical engineering, focuses on optimal power grid operation under uncertainties. He notes that data centers present serious challenges for grid operators, including the need to ensure that the centers’ presence on the grid doesn’t cause stability issues for the grid or voltage quality problems for other grid customers. He says one way to address this challenge is data centers having their own supplementary energy sources so that their dynamics can be masked from the main grid.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
