Motley Fool Money AI’s Power Problem
16 snips
Oct 27, 2025 
Nick Sciple, an expert in energy and nuclear technology, teams up with Seth Jayson, a seasoned analyst focused on emerging tech, to tackle the insatiable power needs of AI. They dive into massive investments in power infrastructure and debate if it's enough. The duo explores the promise of small modular reactors and their role in powering data centers efficiently. They even play a lively game, 'Faker or Breaker,' assessing the viability of several nuclear stocks. It's a thought-provoking discussion on balancing sustainable energy with AI's growing appetite.
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AI Is Changing A Two-Decade Power Plateau
- U.S. electricity demand was essentially flat from 2005–2020 but is shifting rapidly with AI and electrification.
- Data centers' share could rise from under 2% to 9–12% of U.S. electricity by decade-end, straining the grid.
Demand And Supply Are Two Uncertain Curves
- Growth in AI demand and power supply are separate curves and their crossover is uncertain.
- Improvements in chip and software efficiency could flatten demand even as capacity builds slowly.
Don't Bet Only On New Gas Turbines
- Relying on gas turbines looks practical now but supply bottlenecks limit quick scaling.
- Expect industry to pivot back toward nuclear as gas turbine lead times and backlog persist.