Odaily Planet Daily reported that the latest report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) shows that the rapid development of cryptocurrency mining and AI data centers is driving unprecedented electricity demand in North America. Taking Texas as an example, the annual growth rate is expected to reach 4.6% during the summer peak in 2029, which is four times the previous forecast. The NERC report points out that electricity usage for crypto mining often fluctuates with market prices, leading to sudden changes in grid load, while AI data centers significantly increase electricity consumption due to processing, cooling, and storage demands. The consumption characteristics and load behavior uncertainties of these industries further exacerbate the pressure on the grid during peak periods or operational failures. In response to this trend, Texas has implemented energy response programs and strengthened distributed energy management through HB 3390, and some mining companies like MARA have also begun to shift towards renewable energy. (Cointelegraph)

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