New Lines Institute released a report urging Central Asian states to shift from hydropower to solar, wind, and small modular nuclear reactors to support AI hubs and data centers. The recommendation matters because the region's current power deficit threatens its digital economy ambitions. The backdrop is a region where Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have announced plans for electricity-intensive digital economies, yet each lacks the generation capacity to match their growth agendas. Rapid population growth and declining water resources compound the challenge, as hydropower has dominated electricity production for the past 75 years. The report highlights that five Central Asian states are planning to add capacity in the coming decades, but financing delays have already disrupted Kazakhstan's refurbishment and new plant projects. It also points to the stalled construction of Tajikistan's Rogun and Kyrgyzstan's Kambarata-1 mega-dam projects, suggesting a pivot to solar and wind instead. Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are presented as faster, cheaper, and less water-intensive alternatives to the large plants proposed by Russia and China. The report notes that a pivotal challenge is whether regional leaders can develop enough new power sources fast enough to fulfill their economic ambitions. It also says SMRs are generally seen as safer to operate and can be deployed in areas unsuitable for large reactors, better suited for Central Asia and capable of meeting near- and medium-term power needs. If Central Asian states accelerate deployment of solar, wind, and SMRs while strengthening regional grid coordination, they could close the electricity deficit and unlock AI-driven growth across the region.