OpenAI Launches Program to Cut Power Use During Grid Strain

OpenAI has announced a program to reduce electricity use at future campuses when local power grids are under strain, beginning with a planned data center in Effingham County, Georgia. The company says its arrangements with utilities will vary by location and are intended to make campus demand a resource grid operators can call on during periods of high demand. The Georgia project includes up to 1,000 megawatts of flexible demand response, according to OpenAI and Georgia Power. Under the arrangement, Georgia Power can reduce electricity supplied to the planned campus during high-demand periods. OpenAI has said the facility is expected to require about 3.2 gigawatts when fully built. It remains in development. OpenAI calls the effort the Grid Protectors Program and says it will work with utilities, regulators and policymakers on agreements for future campuses. The agreements are expected to set out how much demand can be reduced, how quickly facilities can respond and how long reductions can last. The company has also said it may work with grid operators on onsite generation or storage, and use batteries and power controls to manage changes in demand. The Effingham County...