Across the U.S., the demand for power is climbing at one of the fastest rates in decades. As the economy becomes more reliant on electricity and data centers continue to sprout up in many parts of the country, electric cooperatives are preparing to meet the challenges that skyrocketing demand brings.
The North American Reliability Corporation––the watchdog for the U.S. electric grid––recently released the 2025-2026 winter reliability assessment, which echoed other recent reports, including longer-term outlooks that expect sufficient energy resources during normal conditions but potential supply shortfalls and outages under more intense weather conditions.
Extreme weather coupled with additional factors that are driving increased demand creates challenges for electric utilities, including cooperatives, in their mission to provide reliable power around the clock.
Several key factors are driving increased demand—including economic growth, expanded manufacturing, data center development and increased electrification in transportation. Together, these trends are reshaping how much electricity we consume and how quickly utilities like Edgecombe-Martin County EMC must adapt to meet future needs.
Those national trends are already playing out locally. In 2025 alone, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC fielded 34 requests from economic developers seeking information about electric service availability, capacity and long-term power needs. These requests reflect growing interest in new businesses, expanded facilities and future development across our service area—each bringing additional demand that must be carefully planned. As economic development activity increases, so does the need for reliable, resilient electric infrastructure to support growth both now and in the years ahead.
More homes and businesses are transitioning to electricity for home heating, water heating and transportation. EVs are becoming more common on the road, and many states are offering incentives to help consumers make the switch. Additionally, electric heat pumps are replacing traditional furnaces in many homes due to their efficiency. These transitions mean more energy use and pressure placed on our electric grid.
Data centers are the major contributor to rising demand. As AI, cryptocurrency and cloud computing technologies grow, the need for data processing and storage has skyrocketed. Data centers require huge amounts of power to operate servers and cooling systems 24/7. Tech companies are building new facilities nationwide––many of which are in electric cooperative-served areas––and these regions are experiencing multi-year surges in electricity demand as a result.
Manufacturing growth is also contributing to higher electricity use. As businesses expand and new industries take root, especially in rural and suburban areas, the demand for reliable, high-capacity power is increasing. The resurgence of domestic manufacturing has led to major facility construction. These facilities often require substantial energy loads, and many operate continuously to keep production lines running. This growth brings jobs and investment, but it also puts new pressures on the electric grid.
Population growth and housing development are also contributing to rising demand in many regions, and everyday life is becoming more energy dependent, too. Smart appliances, connected devices, home offices and entertainment systems are adding to overall consumption, even as efficiency improves.
While increased demand presents new challenges for electric utilities, it also has the potential to create significant opportunities for co-ops and the communities they serve, such as job growth, steady revenue and improved infrastructure. Electric co-ops are responding by planning carefully for the future—investing in grid modernization and offering programs and services to help co-op members conserve energy.
Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is taking proactive steps to help meet growing electricity demand while maintaining reliability for our members. One key initiative includes future ownership of a 16.55 percent share of a planned 1,360-megawatt hydrogen-capable combined-cycle natural gas plant in Person County, developed in partnership with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) and Duke Energy. Once online, NCEMC will own approximately 16 percent of the electricity produced—about 225 megawatts (MW) of capacity—providing flexible, dependable generation to help serve cooperative members during periods of high demand. In addition to securing future generation, we also use Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) technology, which allows us to safely optimize voltage levels on our distribution system. CVR helps reduce overall energy consumption and shave peak demand, easing strain on the electric grid while delivering efficiency benefits to our members.
Electricity powers nearly every aspect of today’s economy, and its role will only grow stronger. As electrification accelerates, long-term planning becomes more important than ever.
Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is ready to meet rising demand in our local communities. Through innovation, investment and collaboration, we are preparing for a more reliable and resilient energy future.