Global electricity demand from data centers is set to more than double by 2030. The US is leading that growth by a wide margin with grid power demand from data centers projected to grow from 64.4 gigawatts in 2025 to 183.2 gigawatts by 2030. At the same time, grid capacity is becoming a critical constraint. More than 2,500 gigawatts of renewables, storage and large-load projects, including data centers, are currently stalled in grid connection queues worldwide. In the US alone, the interconnection queue for new generation and storage held over 2,060 gigawatts in 2025 and recent projects that have successfully connected, typically spent around five years in the interconnection process. These pressures are encouraging new approaches to power supply and integration such as onsite generation, storage and flexible grid connection. But securing sufficient power is just part of the equation. Energy, water and heat increasingly need to be considered together, alongside the impact that data centers have on surrounding energy systems and communities. Greater transparency around resource use, closer dialogue with regulators and demonstrable local value can serve in maintaining a social license to operate.