ИИ-дата-центры и жара перегружают энергосети США: закупки PJM выросли на 60%

Bloomberg Tech described a "perfect storm" for the U.S. power grid on July 23, 2026: a simultaneous boom in AI data centers and record summer heat are pushing power grids into emergency modes, while the largest grid operator, PJM Interconnection, raised capacity procurement costs by more than 60%.

What's happening to the U.S. power grid

The U.S. power grid is already struggling with the dual burden of AI and weather. In early July 2026, electricity demand in the country's largest grid system — PJM Interconnection — hit a new record: temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic states exceeded 38°C (100°F), and the grid, already overloaded by the data center boom, was pushed to its limit. Back in June 2026, PJM updated its emergency plan due to data center growth, and on July 14, 2026, the grid fell short of its target capacity supply amid surging demand from AI. PJM serves 13 states and Washington.

Key figures from Bloomberg:

• PJM's capacity procurement costs rose by more than 60%
• Record procurement — $16.4 billion, of which about $6.3 billion is attributable to data centers
• Electricity demand in PJM hit a historic high in early July 2026
• Temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic region exceeded 38°C
• Emissions from Amazon and Google (Alphabet) rose in 2025 due to powering AI

Why it's called a "perfect storm"

A "perfect storm" occurs because heat hits data centers and the grid at the same time. According to Bloomberg, cooling accounts for about 40% of a data center's energy consumption even at normal temperatures, and this share rises in extreme heat. That's why summer peaks become the most vulnerable moment: extreme heat simultaneously raises household demand for air conditioning and increases servers' energy costs for cooling. The result is a vicious circle: data centers demand maximum energy exactly when the overloaded grid has the least to give.

"A perfect storm is brewing: more and more grid failures and power outages," reads

Bloomberg Tech's newsletter from July 23, 2026.

How much electricity will AI take

Data centers will consume about 20% of all U.S. electricity by 2035 — that's the forecast Bloomberg published on July 21, 2026. That's a fifth of national generation going to AI servers. In parallel, the climate conflict is intensifying: greenhouse gas emissions from Amazon and Alphabet (Google) jumped in 2025, because a significant share of the energy for AI is still produced from fossil fuels — even though both companies have publicly stated climate goals.

What it means

The AI race is running up against a physical limit — electricity. As data centers are built faster than power grids can add capacity, rising electricity prices and emergency modes during heat waves are becoming a systemic risk — both for operators like PJM and for consumers in 13 states.

Frequently asked questions

How much have prices risen in the PJM grid because of data centers?

According to Bloomberg, PJM Interconnection's capacity procurement costs rose by more than 60%, reaching a record $16.4 billion. About $6.3 billion of that amount is attributable to data centers.

How much electricity will data centers consume in the U.S.?

According to Bloomberg's forecast from July 21, 2026, by 2035 data centers will consume roughly 20% of all U.S. electricity — a fifth of national generation.

Why is heat dangerous for data centers?

Cooling accounts for about 40% of a data center's energy consumption at normal temperatures and rises in the heat. As a result, data centers demand the most energy exactly when the overloaded grid can supply the least, Bloomberg notes.