## Data centers and energy consumption: a growing challenge The rapid expansion of data centers in the United States is placing a heavy strain on the electric grid, resulting in proposed scheduled outages and growing opposition from the industry. The energy needs of these infrastructures are constantly increasing, fueled by the growing demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. The situation raises questions about the long-term sustainability of this growth model and the ability of the existing infrastructure to meet future energy needs. Data center energy consumption is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, making it necessary to develop innovative solutions to optimize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Companies in the sector are exploring various strategies, including the use of renewable energy sources, the improvement of cooling systems and the adoption of virtualization technologies to reduce the number of physical servers needed. However, the challenge remains complex and requires collaboration between government, industry and energy suppliers to ensure a stable and sustainable supply.