Everywhere but the Northeast, Fewer Homes Choose Natural Gas for Heating
It’s not just AI or data centers. Electricity is the number one choice for use in homes in the US.
This is a technology story.
Fossil fuel technology has improved efficiency. However, heat pumps that can both heat and cool a home have nearly doubled in efficiency in the last 10 years.
Builders and homeowners have many choices for energy decisions. The selection of electric-driven heating and cooling includes common equipment, no plumbing required, no exhaust, and strong consumer demand.
Consider just clothes dryers. What percentage nationwide use natural gas to dry clothes?
Only 20%!
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park
Data Center Boom has Rural Midwest Communities Divided
Building on farmland is seemingly always controversial. I recall housing developments, wind projects, and now data centers.
It all comes down to scarce resource utilization and quality of life.
All land uses require water, power, and land. Some require more than others.
Data centers have enormous power and water needs.
Farming also requires water, and in the Midwest that means groundwater. The conflict arises when increasing water demands drain aquifers, leaving the land worthless for farming and ranching.
The State of Illinois is providing incentives for data centers. With the promise of jobs, the state is offering tax exemptions worth over $250 million.
Powering these data centers requires new energy sources. Wind and solar remain the least costly and least polluting options.
Balancing future needs has always been a struggle, but today it feels more acute because land use may become a winner-take-all situation.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park
Additional Information:
Illinois Excels as Top 5 Global Data Center Destination – Be In Illinois
Data centers worth environmental tradeoffs, Illinois towns say
AI Power Demands: How AI is Affecting Energy Demand – Realgy Energy Services
