US Grid Constraints: Towards 40GW+ of Behind-the-Meter Datacenter by 2028?

# Summary US power grid capacity cannot keep pace with surging AI datacenter demand, with available grid headroom expected to turn negative by 2027 despite 15-20GW of annual new generation capacity being added. As a result, behind-the-meter (BTM) solutions—including onsite power generation using gas and other technologies—are projected to power over 50% of new US datacenters by 2028, with the BTM equipment market reaching 50GW annually by 2029. This shift represents a fundamental change in how hyperscalers and AI labs will secure reliable power as grid constraints become the primary bottleneck to datacenter expansion.