213. Are We Ready for the AI Energy Surge? What Communities Need to Know About Data Centers and the Grid with Dr. Naeem Turner

AI has seemingly taken over our lives in so many ways. Personally, I’ve seen a huge shift in the writing and journalism field for both staff and freelance writers.

But one thing we often don’t see is the energy being funnelled to AI data centers from our already stressed electrical grid. And it’s not just a little bit of energy either–

The 2024 US Data Center Energy Usage Report found that after a period of stagnation from 2014-2016, center energy demand grew, in part, due to expanded efforts to digitize data across economic sectors.

And according to the International Energy Agency, data center energy use increased roughly 4% between 2018 and 2023. And by 2030, U.S. data center consumption is projected to grow by 133%.

This rapid growth begs the question: Are we ready for the AI energy surge?

To help explain how and why AI uses so much energy and what communities can do to prepare for increased energy demand, I’m joined by Dr. Naeem Turner.

Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele is an engineer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Latimer Enterprises, an energy technology and services company focused on helping individuals, businesses, and communities take control of how they power their world through practical, affordable energy solutions.

He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from NYU Stern, and has spent the past decade developing tools, policies, and planning frameworks that support energy affordability, grid reliability, and resilient energy systems across the United States.

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Dr. Naeem Turner

Latimer Enterprises: ⁠https://www.latimerent.com/team/naeem-turner-bandele⁠

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latimer-enterprises/

Email: [email protected]

Sources:

https://www.iea.org/commentaries/what-the-data-centre-and-ai-boom-could-mean-for-the-energy-sector⁠

⁠https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/ai-data-centers-us-electric-grid⁠