US Wind and Solar Still Have Room to Grow for Data Centers, Microsoft VP Says

By Laila Kearney

HOUSTON, March 12 (Reuters) – U.S. wind and solar development still has significant room for expansion to power data centers, particularly in the Midwest wind corridor and sunny southwest, Microsoft Vice President of Energy Bobby Hollis told Reuters at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Wednesday.

The quick proliferation of Big Tech’s energy-intensive data centers to expand AI and cloud technologies is rattling the long-stagnant U.S. power industry, pushing the country’s power consumption to new highs and raising questions about whether carbon-free renewable electricity will be supplanted with gas-fired power.

“We still think there is a very long road ahead that keeps renewables an important part of the mix in the places where that makes sense,” said Hollis.

Microsoft, which pledged five years ago to be carbon negative by 2030, is in the middle of one of the biggest data center expansions of any company globally, with plans to invest $80 billion in the effort this year alone that will require vast quantities of electricity.

Solar and wind are intermittent, only producing energy when the sun is shining or wind is blowing, a problem for data centers that must run around the clock.

Cheap and abundant natural gas, which produces 24/7 electricity but produces emissions that contribute to global warming, has become a quick and increasingly attractive option to big power users who had sought to lead the transition to carbon-free renewable energy.

“Let’s add more gas when it’s necessary,” said Hollis, whose company said it has procured more than 30 gigawatts of renewable power globally. “Before we ever get to that place, let’s make sure that we’ve added the renewables.”

The mid-section of the U.S., with consistent and strong winds, is ripe for development of wind powered data centers, while solar power can be expanded in the sunny southeast, he said.

Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by David Gregorio

Share This:


More News Articles

 

  • Related Posts

    Oil Prices Rebound on Unclear Path to Ukraine Ceasefire

    LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) – Oil prices rebounded on Friday after a more than 1% loss in the previous session, partly due to the diminishing prospects of a quick end…

    AI Leading to Faster, Cheaper Oil Production, Executives Say

    AI took center stage in many sessions at the world’s largest energy gathering. Oil producers are seeking ways to remain profitable in an environment of plummeting oil prices and worries…

    Have You Seen?

    Oil Prices Rebound on Unclear Path to Ukraine Ceasefire

    • March 14, 2025
    Oil Prices Rebound on Unclear Path to Ukraine Ceasefire

    Qatar To Supply Natural Gas To Syria’s New Government

    • March 14, 2025
    Qatar To Supply Natural Gas To Syria’s New Government

    Iran Sanctions Prop Up Oil Prices

    • March 14, 2025
    Iran Sanctions Prop Up Oil Prices

    Russia Switches to Crypto in Oil Trade

    • March 14, 2025
    Russia Switches to Crypto in Oil Trade

    Qatar Cuts Prices for Its Oil

    • March 14, 2025
    Qatar Cuts Prices for Its Oil

    EPA Says it is Initiating ’31 Historic Actions’

    • March 14, 2025
    EPA Says it is Initiating ’31 Historic Actions’

    Alternative fuels ship regs not likely before 2028 ‘at earliest’

    • March 14, 2025
    Alternative fuels ship regs not likely before 2028 ‘at earliest’

    Air Liquide raises €500m through green bond to support energy shift

    • March 14, 2025
    Air Liquide raises €500m through green bond to support energy shift

    Video: Developing direct air capture, and is it a viable source of CO2?

    • March 14, 2025
    Video: Developing direct air capture, and is it a viable source of CO2?

    Microsoft and SBM Offshore partner on AI for improved floating power tech

    • March 14, 2025
    Microsoft and SBM Offshore partner on AI for improved floating power tech