Governor outlines framework to protect consumers and lower energy costs, calls on General Assembly to act in veto session
What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town?
The rapid growth of data centers, with their enormous energy and water demands, necessitates targeted policy interventions to mitigate environmental impacts and protect local communities. To address these issues, states with existing data center tax breaks should adopt sustainable growth policies for data centers, mandating energy audits, strict performance standards, and renewable energy integration, while also requiring transparency in energy usage reporting. “Renewable energy additionality” clauses should ensure data centers contribute to new renewable capacity rather than relying on existing resources.
A simple trick to fix the data center debate
Remove the status quo bias by asking "would we spend this much in tax revenue to avoid the externalities of the data center?"
Spending deal comes with a bonus: Blocking political control of grants
Congress pauses the OMB's attempt to rewrite how research is funded.
Maine House advances data center moratorium • Maine Morning Star
The Maine House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bill that would ban most data centers until November 2027. The bill, LD 307, places a moratorium on data centers with a load of 20 megawatts or more. House lawmakers passed the bill by a vote of 82-62 Monday, advancing it to the Senate. […]
What Is the Economic Impact of Data Centers? It’s a Secret. - Inside Climate News
N.C. Gov. Josh Stein wants state lawmakers to rethink tax breaks for data centers. The industry’s opacity makes it difficult to evaluate costs and benefits.
Data centers may face temporary power cuts to prevent blackouts on largest US grid | TechCrunch
The decision arrives as the breakneck pace of data center construction has grid operators scrambling to generate power.
A Rural S.C. County Quietly Approved a $2B Data Center During the Winter Storm
Data centers are the nation's fastest-growing energy demand driver, but developers are using nondisclosure agreements to keep projects hidden.
‘The Most Bipartisan Issue Since Beer’: Opposition to Data Centers
Americans have soured on data centers, polls show, and the sentiment is profoundly bipartisan. How will that change our politics?
Maine Is Close to Passing a Moratorium on New Datacenters
The proposed legislation would be the first of its kind passed in the country, but there are similar bills popping up everywhere this year.
Welcome Back to the Office. You Won’t Get Anything Done | The Walrus
Return to office mandates aren’t about output. They’re about asserting control
County With 37 Data Centers Asks Schools to ‘Conserve Electricity’
Henrico County is a major hub for data centers in Virginia. Its officials said it expects a 25% rise in electricity costs next year, and advised workers to close the blinds and turn off their computers to make up for it.
Energy performance of data centres
The Commission’s energy efficiency package for data centres will complement existing EU rules for data centres under the Energy Efficiency Directive.
Infrastructural Regulation and the New Utilities
From too-big-to-fail financial firms to net neutrality to internet platforms and the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, we now face a variety of legal and public
Yeah, We're Going to Have to Tax the Middle Class
Data Center Watch
Free weekly updates on the political risks facing American data center projects
Electricity prices rising by double the rate of inflation. Data center demand means no relief ahead, analysts say
The impact of the AI industry on electricity prices has turned into a major political flashpoint ahead of the midterm elections this November.
