Texas Power Grid Faces Major Expansion to Meet AI and Bitcoin Demands

IconCryptoNewsTerminal Staff13 Jun, 2024

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Texas Power Grid Faces Major Expansion to Meet AI and Bitcoin Demands

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), responsible for managing the power grid for most of Texas, is facing a significant upgrade to accommodate the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and bitcoin mining. According to ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, the grid's capacity will need to increase from its current 85,000 megawatts (MW) to an estimated 150,000 MW within the next six years. This expansion is an increase from the previous estimate of 130,000 MW, highlighting the underestimated power consumption of AI and bitcoin mining. Vegas emphasized that these technologies require more energy than initially anticipated. The news comes amid renewed attention to the U.S. mining industry after former President Donald Trump praised the sector in a recent speech. The article notes that the industry's growth has contributed to the need for substantial power grid expansion in Texas. ```

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