US data centers may consume 9% of electricity by decade’s end
Microsoft and Meta are leading a $500 billion AI buildout, with data centers expected to drive up US electricity consumption.
The four largest cloud buyers are on pace to spend roughly half a trillion dollars this year building AI infrastructure.
Microsoft alone committed $115.95 billion in fiscal 2026 capital expenditures, while Meta Platforms narrowed its 2026 CapEx guide to $130 to $145 billion.
Alphabet spent $44.92 billion in Q2, up 100.14% year over year, and Amazon burned $54.21 billion in Q2, contributing to rising residential electricity prices