As more people and industries rely on artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence (AI) relies on more energy. Data centers, which house the computing systems responsible for AI, rely on massive amounts of electricity to power the technology. The needs of these essential facilities are an invitation to welcome the transformative economic effects that data centers can bring while pursuing innovative energy solutions.

While not as glamorous as the cutting-edge technologies they power, data centers are experiencing a boom in their own right. The data center industry is projected to grow 10% every year through 2030, making them extremely attractive to investors worldwide. States stand to benefit from hosting these highly sought after centers. Jobs and multi-billion dollar investments are par for the course when new data centers emerge.

Tech companies will follow data centers and bring even more jobs to the region, effectively creating a tech hub around the power source. Additionally, those states with a wealth of natural energy resources can give a boost to their already existing industries. For instance, Louisiana, with its abundant oil and gas, is perfectly poised to welcome data centers and meet their power demands.

Not everyone is eager to welcome in data centers. States including Illinois, Virginia, Arizona, and Arkansas have seen an influx of bills seeking to limit or entirely prohibit data centers in certain areas. Those in favor of regulation cite the immense pressure that data centers place on the power grid, arguing that this cost outweighs the numerous economic benefits that the centers bring.

The impulse to impose red tape and restrictions on something so essential to the technology we rely on today is misguided. Instead, legislators and innovators alike should seize the opportunity to create infrastructure that makes energy abundant, not scarce. The same innovative spirit that has made the United States a leader in the AI revolution can bring solutions to the data center dilemma.

Lawmakers and stakeholders alike are tasked with reconciling the necessity of data centers to  their massive energy demands. Data centers are not going away, so states that choose to meet this task with regulation are simply blocking their communities from experiencing the far-reaching benefits that a thriving tech industry can bring. Determined innovation and a dedication to abundant energy is necessary to ensure that no one, including the power grid, is left behind in the age of data.