Gianarikas: Electricity prices are rising as AI data centers need more power

Energy Demand & Supply Concerns - The US existing grid may not have enough power to support the massive scale of data centers, leading to concerns about fulfilling energy demand [1][2] - AI data centers are increasing electricity prices due to their growing power needs [2][3] - Bottlenecks exist in bringing natural gas online, hindering the ability to meet the power demands of data centers [5][6] - Fulfilling data center companies' ambitions will require 5-10 years to bring online energy sources like solar power and batteries [6] Nuclear Energy & Regulatory Landscape - The US has taken a pullback on nuclear energy due to environmental and safety concerns, while China is pressing forward with nuclear reactor construction [4] - The average construction time for a nuclear reactor in China is 57 years, raising questions about the US's ability to meet power demands [4] - Both the Trump and Biden administrations have attempted to ease regulatory bottlenecks for bringing new reactors online, but it still takes a long time [8][9][10] - Nuclear companies anticipate new reactors may not be operational until the end of the decade or into the 2030s [8] Cost Considerations & Investment Outlook - The cost to build a US reactor is significantly higher compared to China, potentially creating a log jam [10][11] - Small modular reactors (SMRs) promise to bring scale and reduce costs, but this is currently theoretical [11][12][13] - For investors with long-term horizons, nuclear power investments may be wise, but near-term volatility should be expected [14] - Investment opportunities exist in bridge power solutions, such as companies like Fluence and Amoresco that are deploying batteries and solar on the grid [6][15]