AI data centers are straining the U.S. power grid as electricity demand from large-scale compute facilities accelerates faster than utility infrastructure can expand, according to reporting by Quartz. Grid operators in multiple regions are flagging capacity constraints tied directly to hyperscaler and colocation buildouts. Utilities are racing to add generation and transmission, but permitting timelines often lag demand by several years. The gap between announced data center capacity and available grid interconnection is expected to widen through 2028.