By Kyle Wiley
The rapid expansion of energy-intensive industries is reshaping the Midwest, from Indiana and Illinois to Michigan. From advanced manufacturing and logistics to health care, agriculture, and data centers, these industries are driving unprecedented demand for energy. But this technological and industrial transformation comes with a challenge: a skyrocketing demand for power that our current grid infrastructure is struggling to meet. To ensure that Michigan and the broader Midwest remains a hub for innovation and economic growth, we must embrace a forward-thinking energy dominance strategy — one that prioritizes not only energy production but also energy storage.
As a former senior adviser in President Trump’s Department of Energy, I strongly support his “All-of-the-Above” energy strategy, which recognizes that America’s energy dominance depends on a balanced mix of gas, nuclear and renewables. However, a crucial missing component is large-scale battery storage — essential for preventing grid overloads, stabilizing electricity prices, and ensuring a reliable energy supply as demand surges. To keep the Midwest competitive as a business and technology hub, battery storage must be a central focus of our energy strategy.
The energy intensity of AI-driven industries is staggering, but AI is just one piece of the larger energy equation. Energy demands are surging due to increased industrial automation, electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and large-scale manufacturing expansions. These industries will dramatically increase power consumption, and the existing grid infrastructure will struggle to keep up. The U.S. must take a dual approach, focusing on both energy production and storage solutions to meet this rising demand. This technology isn’t a futuristic luxury — it’s a necessity for an energy-secure country.
The U.S. must also reduce its reliance on nefarious actors like China and Russia, who have benefited from weak energy policies and disengagement from global markets. Strengthening domestic energy infrastructure, including battery storage, ensures long-term resilience and keeps energy production under U.S. control.
Like all other modern technologies, there have been concerns about battery energy technology. The January 2025 fire at Moss Landing, once the world’s largest battery storage facility, highlighted the shortcomings of previous-generation systems and led to understandable concerns about safety. However, modern battery storage systems are far more advanced than older designs like Moss Landing. Today, industry has responded with enhanced fire suppression systems, modular container designs, and updated regulatory frameworks to ensure that battery storage remains a reliable and secure component of the energy grid. These innovations make modern battery storage safer, more efficient, and better equipped to meet the growing energy demands of manufacturing, AI, and logistics industries.
One particularly promising development is lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, which offers a safer, more cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. With companies already
expanding LFP production in the U.S., the Midwest can position itself as a leader in manufacturing and deploying energy storage solutions. By embracing this innovation, the region can drive job creation, bolster domestic supply chains, and solidify its role in the nation’s energy future.
As states across the country push forward with ambitious energy goals, the Midwest cannot afford to lag behind. The industrial economy, like the AI-driven economy, is not a distant prospect — it is already here, with an exponential energy demand. If Midwest states want to remain economic powerhouses, they must invest in battery storage as a foundational element of their energy strategy. This means incentivizing storage development, expanding domestic battery manufacturing, and ensuring regulatory frameworks support — not hinder — this crucial infrastructure.
The alternative? Falling behind in an economy increasingly defined by energy availability. Businesses, policymakers, and energy leaders across the region must recognize that the future of our economy depends on our ability to store and deliver power efficiently. By embracing battery storage now, the United States can secure its position at the forefront of manufacturing, logistics and AI revolutions, ensuring long-term economic growth, energy resilience and a future powered by innovation.
Kyle Wiley, a former senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Energy, is senior manager of global government affairs at ServiceNow.
