Wyoming AI Facility Will Consume More Power Than All the State’s Homes Combined

AI data centers are straining US power and water systems, driving up utility demand and costs nationwide.

A new artificial intelligence facility planned for Wyoming is expected to consume more electricity than all residential households in the state combined, according to utility provider Rocky Mountain Power. It’s part of a broader national trend in which AI infrastructure is accelerating faster than energy systems can adapt, posing new challenges for utilities, governments, and consumers.

As AI model training and inferencing become increasingly resource-intensive, large-scale data centers are reshaping America’s energy and water usage. Industry estimates suggest data centers already account for 4.4% of US electricity consumption and could reach 12% by 2028. Some utilities warn that national electricity demand may rise as much as 50% within five years, with no state currently positioned to manage that level of growth.

AI infrastructure is outpacing utility capacity

Some ...