Core Viewpoint - The construction boom of AI data centers is driving a significant increase in electricity demand, leading to rising electricity prices and creating a dual challenge of "power scarcity" and "community opposition" in the U.S. [1][3][5] Group 1: Electricity Price Surge - The capacity price in the PJM interconnection has skyrocketed from $2.2 billion in the 2023/2024 delivery year to $16.1 billion in the 2026/2027 delivery year [7] - Capacity prices in the PJM "rest of market" region surged from $29 per megawatt-day in the 2024/2025 delivery year to $269 per megawatt-day in the 2025/2026 delivery year, marking an increase of over five times within a year [7][8] - This price surge has resulted in average electricity bills for residents in the PJM region increasing by 18% to 25% [8][10] Group 2: Community and Regulatory Response - At least 12 states in the U.S. are considering new policies to ensure data centers bear the costs of their electricity consumption to avoid passing these costs onto consumers [3][11] - Local policymakers are under pressure to create special rate structures that internalize the costs associated with data centers, indicating a shift in policy focus [11][12] - Community opposition, driven by concerns over rising electricity costs, water resource consumption, and noise pollution, is becoming a significant barrier to data center projects [13][14] Group 3: Energy Solutions - Solar and energy storage technologies accounted for 80% of the new electricity generation capacity in the U.S. in 2024, making them key solutions for meeting the rising electricity demand [4][16] - Natural gas is expected to play a crucial role in providing stable power in the short term, while nuclear energy is viewed as a long-term solution beyond the 2030s [18][19] - Major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are exploring agreements with nuclear energy firms to directly supply power to their data centers [19]