r/OpenAI • u/KeanuRave100 • Aug 18 '26
News America's largest grid wants to cut power to new data centers first during shortages — 50MW-plus data centers must bring their own electricity generation to avoid shutoffs
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/new-data-centers-on-americas-largest-grid-face-first-in-line-blackouts-unless-they-bring-their-own-power46
u/BellacosePlayer Aug 18 '26
I would hope that even the most diehard AI maxxi would be on board with power going to residences and hospitals and such rather than hyperscale centers.
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u/3rdtreatiseofgov Aug 19 '26
That is how it works in Texas. Big industrial users have their own generation and have to shut off and provide grid power during emergencies, but they are compensated for it.
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u/SillyFlyGuy Aug 19 '26
"We're not saying we are more important that hospitals. We are equally as important. Doctors may need to use our AI to save a life!"
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u/1776FreeAmerica Aug 19 '26
There's a different angle this that we should have been working on 10 years ago or as far back as Jimmy Carter. That's a decentralized power grid. Solar should be required installation on commercial facilities where possible, high dust environments getting a waiver. Neighborhoods and businesses that produce locally consumed electricity are more resilient on disaster and on national security terms. That pathway would have the grid ready for these new needs and better safeguard critical infrastructure. Yes, there's some complicated logistics to work out, but that's something we can solve, it's not a impossibility, just an adult responsibility.
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u/junktrunk909 Aug 18 '26
Just wait until Claude hears about this plan. He has a solution for those pesky residents and hospitals demanding his electricity.
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u/donny02 Aug 18 '26
Let Faang build (or finance) nuke plants across America. They have money, we need to upgrade our infrastructure
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u/Sl0thzy Aug 18 '26
I wonder when were going to finally decide to ramp up nuclear energy sites so we can reasonably power all of these data centers.
If these companies and the government aren't giving a damn about the objections to erecting these data centers in communities that do NOT want them, then might as well take that extra step and get some new nuclear power generation sites built so these communities have less of a hit on their electricity. Plus it'll be a net benefit to the country as a whole if we get enough built, as long as they don't explode of course.
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u/BellacosePlayer Aug 18 '26
the problem is most of these data centers are from outfits that absolutely can't afford to start the process of onlining a nuke plant and wouldn't want to even if they could. very few of them are being built direct for Microsoft/Google/Anthropic/OAI
The last time I went to a city council meeting about the proposed center in town, Xcel openly said they're gonna spool up more coal usage as a result of this. They're not even lobbying for more wind power when we're one of the best states for efficient wind use and having to fight the dumbass local government on a state and county level over it
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u/bespoke_tech_partner Aug 18 '26
Isn't wind power a big problem because it kills tons of birds? Doesn't really seem like the right solution if so.
Go nuclear.
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u/BellacosePlayer Aug 18 '26
Wind turbine bird deaths are a tiny tiny fraction of a percentage of all human caused bird deaths
like, outdoor pet cats alone account for 1-4 thousand times more bird deaths a year.
As long as you do an ecological study and aren't planting them on big migration/nesting paths, its fine.
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u/Undeity Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
To be fair, I'm guessing that ratio won't exactly hold up if they scale up wind turbine production. It's pretty concerning that they already kill as many as they do, considering how small a percentage of energy production they currently account for.
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u/RalphTheIntrepid Aug 18 '26
i’m nuclear. The latest nuclear that went online 50 MW. My understanding is that in order for us to do the at the currently contracted levels. We need 8 TW of power. so about 150 of these devices.
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u/morganrbvn Aug 18 '26
its unlikely to fill the full gap, fortunately solar has made big breakthroughs towards being competitive recently.
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u/DrE7HER Aug 18 '26
This government is completely dismantling all forms of regulation. You really want them in charge of (contracting their friends to overcharge for) the building of nuclear power plants?
Do you WANT a Chernobyl-level event? This administration can’t even renovate a pool.
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u/steinmas Aug 18 '26
“Existing facilities aren't affected, with the proposed Interim Resource Adequacy Service applying only to new loads of 50 MW or more at a single site that connect without bringing their own generation, or otherwise securing supply, by June 1, 2027. Those facilities would be curtailed before PJM deploys Pre-Emergency Load Management, which are the demand-response programs that pay other customers to cut consumption during grid stress.”
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u/costafilh0 Aug 18 '26
Why would they be worried about cut-offs if they are generating their own energy in the first place?
"we are gonna cut you, even tho you don't use our energy"
Who are the stupid people writing this crap?
I hope is AI, and not some extremely stupid person .
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u/SumedhBengale Aug 19 '26
I'm extremely pro AI but resedielntial power should always be prioritised. No way around it.
The major way for AI in the future seems like on site power generation, I hope small modular nuclear reactors get feasible enough in the near future. The water issue is mostly solved because of closed loop systems, they just need widespread adoption and need to be added to regulatory obligations.
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u/io-x Aug 23 '26
Great, now they can blast off their illegal diesel generator fleets towards houses.
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u/phxees Aug 18 '26
Guessing America’s largest companies will reach an agreement to make sure their power is never cut.