Few events in history have tested the U.S. energy grid like the AI revolution. As data centers proliferate across the country, their cumulative power demand is projected to double by next year, rising from 31 gigawatts to 66 gigawatts. In some parts of the country, the energy needs of AI are already outpacing available capacity, driving up consumer electricity bills, raising the risk of blackouts, and increasing reliance on high-emission energy sources. The aging grid clearly isn’t equipped to handle AI’s surging power demand, and while experts broadly agree that something needs to be done, they have differing opinions on the best path forward. For this Giz Asks, we asked various experts what they think is the smartest way to power the AI boom. They pointed to a diverse array of solutions—from microgrids to geothermal energy—underscoring the complexity of the challenge ahead. The following responses may have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Mohammad Shahidehpour University Distinguished Professor, Galvin Chair Professor, and Director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Shahidehpour has been the principal investigator of over $80 million in grants and contracts on power system operation and control, smart grid research and development, and large-scale integration of renewable energy.