Energy Transition
As a Director with Clarum Advisors, Molly Podolefsky leverages her experience in economics, decarbonization, corporate sustainability, corporate finance, and the power and utilities sector to help innovative, clean tech companies. Prior to Clarum, Molly spent a decade at Guidehouse working with utility clients managing EE and DSM EM&V portfolios, supporting regulatory compliance and conducting research focused on IoT, smart and connected devices, load flexibility and demand response.
Electricity demand in the United States is surging at an unprecedented rate — driven by industrial onshoring, building and transportation electrification, and the explosive rise of artificial intelligence. For two decades, electric load remained largely flat, but today projections suggest demand may rise twenty-five percent in the next five years, with data center demand nearly doubling.
This rapid acceleration presents challenges, but more importantly, it creates powerful tailwinds for the energy transition. Unlike policy-driven incentives of the past, today’s growth is market-driven — anchored in the real needs of hyperscalers, utilities, and consumers. This provides a stronger and more sustainable foundation for long-term investment.
Private capital has a pivotal role to play. With federal incentives volatile and supply-demand mismatches growing, the scale and speed of private investment will determine whether clean energy supply keeps pace.
Key Takeaways
Unprecedented Demand Growth: U.S. electricity demand may rise twenty-five percent in five years; data center demand nearly doubling. Hyperscalers demand clean, dispatchable energy — often willing to pay a premium.