US data center IT load capacity could roughly double over the next three years, rising from about 80 gigawatts in 2025 to about 150 gigawatts by 2028, according to power sector analysis. The projected growth places data centers among the fastest-expanding sources of electricity demand in the country.

Near-term figures show the pace clearly. Power demand from data centers is expected to move from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 41 gigawatts in 2026, then to 66 gigawatts the following year. As a share of total US peak summer demand, data centers are forecast to climb from 4.1% in 2025 to 5.3% in 2026.

The buildout is concentrated where power is available. Reliability risks are elevated in the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Continent, and Northwest, where new generation additions lag the incoming load. Meanwhile, several states that once led the market, including California, Iowa, Oregon, and Nebraska, are projected to lose more than half of their relative share as constraints redirect development.

The doubling of IT load capacity underscores the central challenge facing utilities and grid operators. Meeting demand of this magnitude requires large additions of generation and transmission, investments that take years to plan and build against a demand curve rising far faster.

Source: Bloom Energy -- https://www.bloomenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-power-report.pdf