Could data centers overload the power grid? Expert explains

Northern Virginia is home to the world's largest concentration of data centers, but what happens when the power grid is disrupted? A recent transmission line failure caused multiple data centers to disconnect from the electric grid to protect sensitive equipment, resulting in brief power fluctuations across the region. While there were no widespread blackouts, the incident has renewed questions about how growing energy demands from artificial intelligence and cloud computing could affect grid reliability. In this interview with 7News anchor Megan Clarke, Alan Cooper, CEO and co-founder of On.Energy, explains what happened, why data centers disconnected from the grid and how sudden changes in electricity demand can create challenges for grid operators. Cooper also discusses new technologies designed to isolate data centers from grid disturbances, including advanced battery storage and power management systems that could help prevent larger outages while improving reliability for everyone connected to the grid. As Northern Virginia continues to lead the world in data center development, experts say investments in resilient infrastructure will be critical to supporting AI growth while keeping the lights on. Watch the full interview as Alan Cooper explains the challenges, opportunities and future of the nation's electric grid in the age of artificial intelligence. READ MORE: https://wjla.com/news/local/northern-virginia-data-centers-data-center-capital-world-power-grid-electricity-transmission-failure-grid-reliability-alan-cooper-on-energy-ceo-co-founder-megan-clarke-7news-transmission-line-power-disturbance-pjm-utilities-artificial-intelligence-ai #DataCenters #NorthernVirginia #PowerGrid #Electricity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Technology #Energy #GridReliability #Infrastructure #7News #WJLA _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: 7News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/ 7News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/7NewsDC 7News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7newsdc Subscribe to WJLA on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIjR00qhYUFkbWIugAAbGg/?sub_confirmation=1 Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSvyoe-YmPKDGkW96ly8Qt_JR67erE_zt For more information, visit https://wjla.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: newsdesk@wjla.com Call the Newsroom: 703.236.9480 WJLA is the local ABC affiliate for the greater Washington DC area. From our studios in Arlington, VA ABC7 covers national and local news, sports, and weather. #WJLA #DCNews #7NewsDC This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com