Energy

Lawmakers weigh climate goals against rising power demand

AI and cloud computing are driving the need for more energy.
A data center owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

States are taking steps to encourage or ease the construction of power plants and related infrastructure to meet the anticipated surge in demand for electricity, creating a dilemma for some Democratic-led states that have enacted laws setting emissions-reduction goals.

It pits the desire to meet those goals against the need to build new power generation to attract business and industry in an effort to spur economic growth.

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