Hamm Institute Welcomes Mark P. Mills as Distinguished Fellow

The Hamm Institute for American Energy, based in Oklahoma City, has appointed energy and technology analyst Mark P. Mills as a Distinguished Fellow and a member of its Advisory Board. This announcement, made on December 3, 2025, positions Mills to contribute significantly to the institute’s American Energy + AI Initiative, focusing on the energy demands linked to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.

Mills currently serves as the executive director of the National Center for Energy Analytics and is a contributing editor at City Journal. Additionally, he holds roles as a faculty fellow at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and as a distinguished senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. With extensive experience in the energy sector, Mills has testified before Congress multiple times, advocating for energy policies and strategies. His most recent testimony in April 2025 addressed the implications of AI on energy and data center demands before the House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs.

New Research Initiative on AI’s Energy Impact

Mills’ first project with the Hamm Institute is a joint study titled “The Rise of AI: A Reality Check on Energy and Economic Impacts.” This report provides an in-depth analysis of how the increasing prevalence of AI will affect electricity demand, fuel consumption, and the broader U.S. economy.

According to Dr. Ann Bluntzer Pullin, executive director of the Hamm Institute, “AI will be one of the most power-hungry technologies in history, and Mark’s work provides utilities, policymakers, and investors with a clear forecast of what that means in practice.” The report emphasizes the importance of grounding the initiative in factual data regarding energy generation, infrastructure needs, and the timing of developments rather than relying on abstract slogans.

Released at the recent American Energy + AI Summit in Washington, D.C., Mills’ report highlights the urgent need for enhanced energy generation and infrastructure to meet the demands of AI-driven growth. “Artificial intelligence is driving the most significant structural shift in the U.S. economy in decades,” Mills stated. He noted that spending on data center construction has now surpassed that of the entire commercial office building sector.

Addressing Future Energy Needs

Mills warned that the power requirements for individual data centers have reached levels comparable to those of entire cities, underscoring the pressing need for increased energy capacity. He predicted that if AI fulfills its potential to enhance productivity, the U.S. economy could see an expansion of around $10 trillion over the next decade, contingent upon the development of necessary power infrastructure. “Enabling AI’s promises means expanding, not constraining, our energy systems,” he added.

In his dual role as Distinguished Fellow and Advisory Board member, Mills will focus on several key initiatives. He will provide insights into the energy demand and power capacity portfolio for the American Energy + AI Initiative, which includes follow-up studies and briefings tailored to utilities, regulators, and investors. Furthermore, he will advise the Hamm Institute on research priorities that accurately reflect the constraints of real-world power systems.

Mills will also play a crucial role in guiding workforce development by transforming energy demand forecasts into actionable insights for educational institutions and training programs. This step is vital for preparing the workforce needed to build and operate the energy systems of the AI era.

The American Energy + AI Initiative aims to identify near-term solutions for delivering the energy essential for large-scale data centers and advanced manufacturing, while also bolstering energy security for the U.S. and its allies. Mills’ research will establish a foundational forecast of AI-driven electricity demand and the requisite generation, fuel, and infrastructure to support it.

The full study, “The Rise of AI: A Reality Check on Energy and Economic Impacts,” is available for further exploration on the Hamm Institute’s website.

For media inquiries, please contact Dara McBee, Director of External Affairs at the Hamm Institute, at 580-350-7248 or via email at [email protected].

The Hamm Institute for American Energy, affiliated with Oklahoma State University, works to ensure the United States and its allies have access to abundant, reliable, and affordable energy. Through research and strategic collaborations, the institute addresses practical challenges across various energy sectors, with a growing focus on AI and advanced manufacturing demands.