Senators count the shady ways data centers pass energy costs on to Americans
3 days ago
- #tech companies
- #electricity prices
- #data centers
- Senators launched a probe into tech companies' plans to prevent data center projects from increasing electricity bills in communities with already skyrocketing prices.
- A study cited by Senators Warren, Van Hollen, and Blumenthal shows electricity prices near data centers have increased by up to 267% in five years.
- Utility companies building extra infrastructure for data centers—which can consume as much power as an entire city—contribute to rising electricity costs.
- Residents often face higher bills without prior knowledge of data center projects due to tech companies' use of NDAs and shell companies to hide their involvement.
- States like Virginia, with high data center concentrations, could see electricity prices rise by another 25% by 2030.
- Price increases aren't confined to states with data centers; interconnected power grids can raise costs for neighboring states as well.