Energy demand in the United States is about to surge after decades of little to no growth. In Episode 2 of 72 & Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters explores what’s driving a projected 15–25% increase and what it means for the future of the grid.

The shift is being fueled by electrification, renewed manufacturing, and the rapid rise of AI. Data centers alone are beginning to demand energy at a scale comparable to entire regions, putting new pressure on an already complex system.

California offers a preview of both the progress and the challenge. While the state averages a high percentage of carbon-free energy, that supply isn’t consistent throughout the day. When solar drops off at night, demand doesn’t. That’s where battery storage is becoming essential. In many cases, it’s now one of the largest sources of evening electricity.

At the same time, affordability remains a concern. Energy costs are influenced not just by supply, but by infrastructure, wildfire mitigation, and system constraints.

The bigger issue isn’t whether we know what to build—it’s whether we can build it fast enough to meet what’s coming next.

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