Members of an energy-focused panel earlier this week at Tech Alliance’s Policy Matters conference discussed the AI revolution and the need for round-the-clock power. Energy use is surging with power increasingly needed for data centers operated by tech giant “hyperscalers,” as well as for industrial manufacturing and the increased electrification of transportation and other sectors. According to Josh Jacobs, Puget Sound Energy’s VP of clean energy strategy and planning, utilities are pursuing clean alternatives such as advanced nuclear, green hydrogen, long duration storage, and other technologies but those solutions are five to ten years down the road for commercial scale projects.
Other panelists included Greg Cullen, VP of energy services and development for Energy Northwest; Jessie Barton, communications director for Helion; and Chris Green, president of Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association.
The panelists emphasized the need to modernize and improve grid operations, as well as acknowledging the challenge of meeting energy demand.
Read more here: Energy use is outstripping supply in part due to AI-driven, data center demands.