Fortune: "AI experts return from China stunned: The U.S. grid is so weak, the race may already be over." Ma is a renowned expert in Chinese technology + founder of the media company Tech Buzz China. After a recent tour of China she stated that while she isn’t an energy expert, she attended enough meetings and talked to enough insiders to come away with a conclusion that should send chills down the spine of Silicon Valley: in China, building enough power for data centers is no longer up for debate. "This is a stark contrast to the U.S., where AI growth is increasingly tied to debates over data center power consumption and grid limitations,” she wrote on X. In the US, where consumer spending is usually 'two-thirds of the pie,' it is notable that while data center building is the foundation of AI advancement, it 'now displaces consumer spending in terms of impact to U.S. GDP. "Cities’ power grids are so weak that some companies are just building their own power plants rather than relying on existing grids." And the public is getting increasingly frustrated over 'increasing energy bills—in Ohio, the [monthly] electricity bill for a typical household has increased at least $15 this summer from the data centers—while energy companies prepare for a sea-change of surging demand.' Meanwhile, in China adds more electricity demand than the entire annual consumption of Germany—every single year. "China’s quiet electricity dominance...is the result of decades of deliberate overbuilding and investment in every layer of the power sector, from generation to transmission to next-generation nuclear. I am blown away by this next statistic: China's reserve margin has never dipped below 80%–100% nationwide, meaning it has consistently maintained at least twice the capacity it needs. "That level of cushion is unthinkable in the United States, where regional grids typically operate with a 15% reserve margin and sometimes [much] less, particularly during extreme weather." We have become inured to hearing—especially in places like California + Texas—red-flag conditions when demand is projected to strain the system. We have to  scramble to bring on new generation capacity, often facing years-long permitting delays, local opposition, and fragmented market rules. David Fishman, a Chinese electricity expert who has spent years tracking their energy development, says, “They’re set up to hit grand slams...the U.S., at best, can get on base.” I will only note that we're nearing the end of the season for American professional baseball. Hopefully this is not metaphorical.
