US Secretary of Energy: Hyperscalers committed to clean energy for data centers

In an appearance on CNBC Tuesday morning, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm seemed to firmly acknowledge that small modular reactors—a technology we’ve been touting will be the future of powering artificial intelligence—are nearly all the way to the future.

Granholm was asked about how data centers will be powered in the future. David Faber asked: “At the same time, we’ve obviously tried to replace conventional energy sources with renewables. Now we have this incredible potential increase in energy demand because of data centers and the rise of generative AI.”

“How do you see it playing?” he asked. “I mean, we talk a lot about nuclear power. We were talking about Three Mile Island coming back online, or one of the reactors and any number of other nuclear sites coming back, so to speak. How will it mix. , given that our energy needs could be 20% higher than they are now in a handful of years?”

Granholm replied: “Estimates are 15% higher in ten years, as a result of both artificial intelligence and this new manufacturing activity, as well as the electrification of the transport sector.”

She continued: “We’re going to need more power. I’m telling you, we’re adding that power. We’re adding record amounts of clean power.”

“Furthermore, the hyperscalers for these large data centers all have commitments to clean energy and do not want to see themselves in a community where their energy demand drives up everyone else’s rates.”

“They’ve committed, they’re telling us, to bring that power with them, which is why there’s a need for small modular nuclear reactors, co-location of data centers with small reactors, or partnerships.” said Granhom.

“For example, with Constellation and Microsoft for Three Mile Island to turn on more power. We have a lot of nuclear sites in this country that have been permitted for additional reactors that could also power data centers. We work with them.”

You can watch the full appearance here:

By Zerohedge.com

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