E19 – Competing for Kilowatts: Healthcare Facility Energy Strategy in the Era of Data Center Expansion and Climate Acceleration
Hospitals rank among the most energy-intensive buildings, yet healthcare facilities energy planning has not adequately considered the unprecedented transformation currently reshaping U.S. electricity infrastructure. With data center power demand projected to nearly triple, healthcare facilities face critical strategic decisions about energy sourcing, grid resilience, and decarbonization pathways.
This presentation examines the intesection of three converging realities: accelerating data center deployment, the likelihood of reaching 2°C warming within the next decade with it's associated infrastructure impacts, and healthcare's mandate for continuous clean reliable power. We analyze regional grid composition and data center pipeline data to identify strategies that are viable to better serve long-term resilience.
Drawing on emerging frameworks, we propose decision matrices for healthcare facility planning that account for: regional grid carbon intensity and data center forecasts, climate vulnerability under 2°C warming scenarios; and grid reliability risks from competing growth.
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