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Why 3 in 4 peers are prioritizing onsite power as AI demand surges

2026-02-17 · 14:20 UTC ·Utility Dive ·1 min read

Brief

Bloom Energy’s sponsored note frames AI-driven data center growth as primarily a power infrastructure problem rather than a computing one. It claims U.S. IT load could reach about 150 GW, utility interconnection delays now run 1.5-2 years behind developer expectations, Texas may win 30% share by 2028, and fully onsite-powered campuses could rise to one-third of the market by 2030.

Why it matters

A sponsored Utility Dive/Bloom Energy newsletter argues that power availability is becoming the binding constraint on AI data center expansion in the U.S.

Key details

  • The piece cites a 2026 report projecting U.S. IT load at roughly 150 GW, described as more than double prior forecasts, with electricity demand now shaping site selection, build timelines, and infrastructure planning.
  • Texas is forecast to capture 30% of data center market share by 2028 as developers favor regions with available power, while legacy hubs risk losing share.
  • Developers reportedly face a 1.5- to 2-year gap between expected utility energization timelines and actual delivery, and one-third of data center campuses are projected to be fully onsite-powered by 2030 as onsite generation shifts from backup or bridge power to primary infrastructure.
Cleaned source text

title: Why 3 in 4 peers are prioritizing onsite power as AI demand surges

author: Utility Dive

content_type: newsletter

publication: divenewsletter.com

published: 2026-02-17T09:20:09-05:00

source_url: gmail://19c6bfab864d7a16

word_count: 306

Why 1 in 3 data center campuses are projected to be fully onsite-powered by 2030.

Hi Spencer, Power constraints are no longer a variable in data center planning; they're the key factor in reshaping site selection, development timelines, and infrastructure growth. U.S. IT load projected at ~150 GW, more than twice the previous forecasts. The demand for power growing faster than legacy infrastructure can respond. The 2026 report shows:

New geographic power players are emerging; Texas is poised to capture 30% of market share by 2028, while legacy markets face losing share. Power availability is redrawing the competitive map.

Time-to-power delays deepen, with a 1.5 - 2-year gap between what developers expect and what utilities can deliver. In critical hubs, this gap is widening.

Onsite power adoption is poised to grow, with one-third of data centers expected to be fully onsite powered by 2030. Operators expect that onsite power will shift from "bridge to grid" to "primary infrastructure."

Bloom Energy

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