The DSR Network AI, Energy and Climate: Power Prices, Data Centers and US-Canada Geopolitics
Feb 4, 2026
A.J. Goulding, president of London Economics International and electricity markets expert teaching at Columbia SIPA. He unpacks rising U.S. power prices and the drivers behind them. He explains how data centers influence load, infrastructure costs, and tariffs. He explores US-Canada grid links, cross-border vulnerabilities, and shifting investment in wind, nuclear, solar and storage.
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Wholesale Prices Are Not The Whole Story
- Wholesale prices are only part of consumer bills and rising input and capital costs push prices across the value chain.
- Aging infrastructure, higher natural gas and longer equipment lead times are driving long-term cost increases.
Make Large Loads Pay Their Share
- Require large loads like data centers to pay upfront for the system impacts and sign firm, interruptible contracts.
- Use tariffs and 'bring your own power' rules to protect other customers from cost shifts.
Demand Response Eases Interconnection Strain
- Demand response can interconnect a significant share of load without major new investment.
- Short-term grid flexibility reduces need for costly augmentation when load grows rapidly.
