American families and businesses have a fundamental expectation of the electric grid: When they flip the switch, the lights should come on at a cost they can afford. As fundamental as that expectation is, Washington is putting it in jeopardy.

Driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, electricity demand is accelerating at a pace not seen in generations. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, data centers alone could account for 11.8% of total U.S. electricity use by 2030.