Data Centers: where do they consume most energy?

Data centers have become major electricity consumers in the U.S., driven by cloudcomputing and Al systems that require substantial computational resources and cooling infrastructure.

Virginia, particularly NorthernVirginia, has emerged as the global epicenter for data centers, with nearly 300 facilities concentrated in Loudoun, Fairfax, and PrinceWilliam counties.

According to Amazon, around 70% of global internettraffic is estimated to pass through this region, often referred to as "Data Center Alley."

The massive concentration of data centers in Virginia has led to a significant increase in electricityconsumption, with Dominion Energy reporting that 24% of its electricity sales in 2023 were to data centers.

The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative expects to increase its peak electric load by more than 12% per year over the next 15 years, "driven almost exclusively by data center demand".

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