Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty — it’s infrastructure. AI is becoming embedded in public services, health systems, finance, agriculture supply chains, and education. But as countries and companies race to deploy AI, one constraint will determine how far and how fast it spreads: electricity.
Nuclear is the one technology that can reliably deliver carbon-free, always-on power at scale.
The data centers powering AI and cloud computing are multiplying quickly, and each requires an enormous amount of reliable power. The International Energy Agency projects that by 2030, global data centers could consume as much electricity as Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, does today. Even modest growth in data-center demand can overwhelm grids that are already capacity-constrained.
About the author
Erik Funkhouser
Erik Funkhouser is executive director of the Good Energy Collective, leading an independent think tank advancing responsible nuclear energy. His work spans global supply chains, equitable community engagement, and innovation policy. With over a decade in clean energy and climate leadership, he has led major initiatives across government, academia, and nonprofits.
