Ghoti Ichthus
Genesis 18:32, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 5:29
Maybe this is the real reason for no more pennies 
Seriously, this could be a GIANT PROBLEM for homeowners, jurisdictions, businesses, etc., when the price skyrockets and the copper thieves, who strip copper wire, pipes, etc. from buildings (especially vacant), steal wiring from street lights, steal sensors and switches from railroad tracks (including commuter lines), etc. can get more drugs and $ for what they steal. This gets worse every time copper prices go up, and subsides some when it drops some. These guys can do tens of thousands of dollars of damage in just a few hours stripping a house because they break and destroy whatever's necessary to extract all the copper as fast as possible.
Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 1:24pm
"A surge in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense modernization is expected to push global copper demand to 42 million metric tons by 2040, a 50% percent rise from the 28 million metric tons consumed globally in 2025, according to S&P Global Energy & Market Intelligence's "Copper in the Age of AI" report.
The explosive buildout of AI data centers is only expected to add about 10% to the projected rapid rise in copper demand. However, the roughly 1.4 million metric tons of copper this sector is expected to consume each year piles onto the demand growth of the other three major copper consumers – the core economy, energy, and defense."
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Seriously, this could be a GIANT PROBLEM for homeowners, jurisdictions, businesses, etc., when the price skyrockets and the copper thieves, who strip copper wire, pipes, etc. from buildings (especially vacant), steal wiring from street lights, steal sensors and switches from railroad tracks (including commuter lines), etc. can get more drugs and $ for what they steal. This gets worse every time copper prices go up, and subsides some when it drops some. These guys can do tens of thousands of dollars of damage in just a few hours stripping a house because they break and destroy whatever's necessary to extract all the copper as fast as possible.
S&P Global Forecasts a Potential 10 Million Metric Ton Copper Shortfall by 2040
Metal Tech News - January 20, 2026Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 1:24pm
"A surge in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense modernization is expected to push global copper demand to 42 million metric tons by 2040, a 50% percent rise from the 28 million metric tons consumed globally in 2025, according to S&P Global Energy & Market Intelligence's "Copper in the Age of AI" report.
The explosive buildout of AI data centers is only expected to add about 10% to the projected rapid rise in copper demand. However, the roughly 1.4 million metric tons of copper this sector is expected to consume each year piles onto the demand growth of the other three major copper consumers – the core economy, energy, and defense."
More
Copper demand rockets in the Age of AI
S&P Global forecasts a potential 10 million metric ton copper shortfall by 2040. A surge in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense modernization is expected to push global copper demand to 42 million metric tons by 2040, a 50% percent rise from the 28 million...
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