Microsoft’s Data Center in North Carolina to Be Powered by Duke

Duke Energy has signed deals with Microsoft and Compassto power expansive data center complexes under construction in North Carolina as the artificial intelligence boom supercharges the demand for electricity.

Those two agreements combined with another undisclosed tech customer increase the utility’s data center contracts to 4.5 gigawatts from 3 gigawatts, according to the company’s fourth-quarter earnings presentation. A gigawatt is roughly the output of one traditional nuclear reactor.

“We have a lot more in the hopper as well,” Chief Executive Officer Harry Sideris said on Bloomberg Television.

Terms of the Microsoft and Compass agreements weren’t disclosed.

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