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As electric bills rise, evidence mounts that data centers share blame. States feel pressure to act (apnews.com)
submitted 3 days ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to c/usa@midwest.social
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Amid rising electric bills, states are under pressure to insulate regular household and business ratepayers from the costs of feeding Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers.

It’s not clear that any state has a solution and the actual effect of data centers on electricity bills is difficult to pin down. Some critics question whether states have the spine to take a hard line against tech behemoths like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta.

But more than a dozen states have begun taking steps as data centers drive a rapid build-out of power plants and transmission lines.

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[-] SnotFlickerman 41 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

lol lmao even.

This is a country that tells its citizens to not use AC during peak hours to prevent brownouts and too much pressure on an aging power grid while letting big business do a never-ending draw on the same resources.

Amazon warehouses filled with people don't have AC. Amazon warehouses filled with robots do have AC.

New York lets the ads run non-stop in Times Square, but the citizens better not use their AC when it's hot!

No ones gonna do shit about this. We're balls deep into "profit over people" territory.

[-] salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 15 points 3 days ago

"evidence mounts" Like we didn't know this before the data centers were built.

[-] The_v@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Here's a simple solution.

Charge data centers the exact same as the residential rate.

Pop goes the AI bubble.

[-] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago

So the same for cash crops and differently drought becomes a non-issue.

[-] KnitWit@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Use more and pay less due to bulk pricing, meanwhile we ‘share the blame’.

[-] Ascrod@midwest.social 3 points 2 days ago

Socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for everyone else.

this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2025
134 points (100.0% liked)

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