The energy consumption of American AI data centers is expected to rival the output of new US solar farms, driven by the significant energy required to operate generative AI like Chat GPT. Estimating AI energy usage is complex, but Goldman Sachs' analysis of Virginia's commercial power consumption suggests a 37% increase from 2016 to 2023, likely due to data center growth. AI data centers currently account for 0.5% of US power demand, but this is expected to triple by 2030, driven by increasing AI use, electric vehicles, and industrial electrification, raising concerns about the environmental impact.