The Energy Department is set to announce almost $2 billion for 31 projects across 26 states to increase the capacity and efficiency of the aging U.S. power grid as artificial intelligence drives rapid growth in electricity demand. The projects are expected to add more than 23 gigawatts of capacity, enough to power 16 million homes, while improving reliability and reducing electricity costs for about 100 million Americans. They will deploy sensors and other equipment to monitor weather in real time, support safer transmission and redirect electricity away from congested or overloaded routes. The effort comes as data centers are coming online faster than new power plants can be built, electricity bills are rising faster than inflation in many parts of the country and opposition to new facilities is growing. The grants, funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted under then-President Joe Biden, will be matched with $3.35 billion from recipients. President Donald Trump's administration has separately promoted expanded domestic energy production and faster data-center connections, while critics say utilities have limited incentives to pursue efficiency improvements because new plants and grid projects can generate more revenue.