Power system costs and emissions from data center and cryptocurrency mining expansion in the United States (opens in new tab)

Rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining could significantly alter the trajectory of the United States’ power sector. We use an energy system optimization model to evaluate how projected demand through 2030 may influence electricity generation, power infrastructure investment, emissions, and costs under a range of scenarios. We model power sector capacity expansion and dispatch decisions across 26 interconnected power regions, incorporating policy constra...