The US electric-power sector is entering a period of structural change driven by rising demand, increasing electrification, and more complex operating conditions. After over a decade of relatively flat consumption, utilities and competitive generators face growth rates not seen since the early 2000s. Electric vehicles, electric heating, advanced manufacturing, and energy-intensive digital infrastructure—especially data centers—are collectively reshaping load patterns in ways that challenge traditional planning assumptions. At the same time, coal plant retirements continue, nuclear power faces economic and regulatory pressures, and the interconnection queue for renewable resources remains backlogged. This combination is reducing the reliability margins in multiple regions, creating conditions where firm, dispatchable generation is once again considered essential rather than optional.