Data centers are known for their large energy consumption and carbon emissions. To reduce the environmental impact of these buildings, efforts have been made to bring sustainability and measure activities. However, a recent CBRE-published article highlighted one challenge faced by U.S data centers in their move to renewable energy power: outdated power lines that can take up to three years according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL).
Fortunately, regional data center markets are attempting solutions for this issue. Northern Virginia is the largest market with utilities provider Dominion Energy supporting customers’ sustainability goals as issued by the Virginia Clean Economy Act through its Integrated Resource Plan which includes over 5,000 MW of offshore wind and 14,000 MW of solar available by 2037 along with 2,700MW storage capacity . Dallas-Fort Worth is another top location where Texas Senate Bill 1281 has paved way for new transmission line products while ERCOT provides incentives on improving power transmission/distribution . In Silicon Valley many substation sites won’t be online until at least 2029 due grid capacity being maxed out in Santa Clara but Silicon Valley Power committed itself eventually procuring new energy only from renewable/greenhouse gas free sources till 2045 . Central Washington’s hydroelectric supply faces similar issues but Grant County moving forward plans 230 kV infrastructure upgrades & a new 230kV transmission line expected late 2028 while Grant PUD considering nuclear , hydrogen , solar & more wind plants as alternative carbon free generation sources .
Overall it appears there are initiatives taken regionally towards solving US Data Centers’ outdated power infrastructure problem leading them towards sustainable future powered entirely from renewables or greenhouse gas free resources
