Amazon’s Power Struggle in Oregon Highlights AI’s Energy Crunch
Amazon has filed a complaint against PacifiCorp, a Berkshire Hathaway utility, alleging failure to meet power supply commitments for four new data centers in Oregon. The dispute underscores a broader challenge as U.S. utilities grapple with surging electricity demand from data centers powering cloud and AI infrastructure.
Goldman Sachs research warns global data center electricity consumption could reach 4% of total demand by 2030, doubling current levels. In the U.S., where data centers already account for 4% of usage, this share may exceed 8% by decade's end. Amazon shares rose 4% Monday amid the ongoing infrastructure expansion.