Georgia Power has requested approval for one of the largest grid expansions in the United States — a plan to add roughly 10,000 megawatts of new capacity, a 50% increase designed to feed the state’s fast-growing cluster of AI and hyperscale data centers. The utility argues the new capacity is essential to avoid shortages; regulators and consumer advocates warn that customers could end up footing the bill if AI demand fails to materialize (AP News).
The proposal reveals a new fault line: AI’s infrastructure needs are scaling faster than the grid can adapt, and utilities are struggling to determine how much risk belongs to investors, customers, or Big Tech.
From the financial renegade who has predicted almost every major economic event since the late ‘90s comes an urgent new warning:
America Is About To Be Displaced, Forever
An unstoppable new force is about to destroy millions of Americans financially (Goldman Sachs estimates 12,400 daily), while generating millions of dollars for others… Which side will you be on?
Macro Context — When AI Arrives Before the Infrastructure
Georgia has become one of the nation’s leading destinations for hyperscale buildouts, but the grid wasn’t designed for demand that can jump by gigawatts at a time.
The U.S. grid was built for linear growth
Data-center loads grow in step changes: a single campus can require power equivalent to a mid-sized city almost overnight.Utilities operate on multi-year timelines
Power plants, substations, and transmission lines take years to approve and build — far slower than AI deployment cycles.Natural gas becomes the “bridge fuel”
Renewables and batteries contribute, but they cannot provide around-the-clock reliability for compute-intensive AI workloads.Growth at all costs clashes with regulatory mandates
Utilities want to invest; regulators must protect ratepayers. That tension sharpens as capex plans balloon.The political question: Who benefits?
Local residents may see higher bills; tech giants secure reliable power; utilities expand their rate base. The incentives are misaligned.
Georgia is discovering the true energy footprint of the AI economy — and what it means for long-term planning.
Current Dynamics — The 10,000-Megawatt Gamble
Georgia Power proposes a mix of new natural gas units, battery storage, and expanded solar capacity. But the financial implications remain the center of debate.
Ratepayers assume stranded-asset risk
If data-center expansion slows or shifts to other states, customers could be left paying for unused infrastructure.AI demand is volatile and hard to forecast
Hyperscalers may pivot to more power-rich geographies or adopt more efficient compute — leaving Georgia with excess supply.Gas is fast and reliable — and expensive
Utilities rely on gas because it stabilizes the grid, but it locks in long-term fuel and capital costs.Transmission upgrades lag behind generation
Even if plants are built on time, transmission congestion could delay actual delivery to new AI campuses.Public pushback is mounting
Residents increasingly question why their bills should rise to support global tech firms’ data ambitions.
Georgia’s filing sets a national precedent: whether the public should subsidize the infrastructure behind AI’s rapid expansion.
Current Dynamics — The 10,000-Megawatt Gamble
Georgia Power proposes a mix of new natural gas units, battery storage, and expanded solar capacity. But the financial implications remain the center of debate.
Ratepayers assume stranded-asset risk
If data-center expansion slows or shifts to other states, customers could be left paying for unused infrastructure.AI demand is volatile and hard to forecast
Hyperscalers may pivot to more power-rich geographies or adopt more efficient compute — leaving Georgia with excess supply.Gas is fast and reliable — and expensive
Utilities rely on gas because it stabilizes the grid, but it locks in long-term fuel and capital costs.Transmission upgrades lag behind generation
Even if plants are built on time, transmission congestion could delay actual delivery to new AI campuses.Public pushback is mounting
Residents increasingly question why their bills should rise to support global tech firms’ data ambitions.
Georgia’s filing sets a national precedent: whether the public should subsidize the infrastructure behind AI’s rapid expansion.
Investor Bearings — Reading the AI–Utility Realignment
• Utilities with AI exposure may enter a capex supercycle
Regulatory approval will determine whether these investments translate into long-term earnings.
• Grid equipment suppliers stand to benefit
Transformers, turbines, and HVDC systems become core components of the AI buildout.
• Tech companies may be forced into co-investment models
Direct procurement, microgrids, or shared infrastructure could become politically necessary.
• States with the fastest permitting win
Power availability becomes as important as tax incentives in attracting hyperscale clusters.
• Long-term energy costs become less predictable
If utilities overbuild on optimistic assumptions, customers inherit structurally higher rates.
The emerging dynamic is clear: AI is forcing utilities from predictable planners into risk-bearing partners.
Closing Takeaway (Strategic Lens)
Georgia’s grid expansion marks the start of a new era in energy planning — one in which compute, not population, determines load growth. The question is no longer whether utilities can meet AI demand, but who pays for the power behind the algorithm.
