TechFlow news — On December 24, according to Cointelegraph, the latest report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) indicates that the rapid growth of cryptocurrency mining and AI data centers is driving electricity demand in North America to record highs. Taking Texas as an example, peak summer electricity demand is now projected to grow annually by 4.6% by 2029—four times higher than previous estimates.
NERC noted that power consumption from crypto mining fluctuates with market prices, while AI data centers require continuous energy for cooling and storage, creating instability that poses challenges for grid management. In response to this trend, Texas has launched demand response programs and passed HB 3390 to strengthen distributed energy resource management. Some mining firms, such as MARA, have also started shifting toward renewable energy sources.
