Data Centers, Power Bills, and Your Ballot

Data centers are driving a huge jump in electricity demand across the Southeast, and utilities are using that growth to justify building new fossil gas plants. Duke Energy says data centers account for more than 85% of its expected load growth. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is calling for an 18-month pause on new large data centers in the region, pointing to higher power bills, strained water supplies, and more pollution as the costs communities are absorbing while Big Tech builds fast.

In North Carolina, Duke Energy wants to build two large methane gas plants plus a new type of liquefied natural gas facility along the Yadkin River in Davidson and Davie counties, mainly to power data centers. The project would draw millions of gallons of river water and add pollution and light near nearby communities, though county commissioners and state regulators still have to approve it. In Tennessee, Knoxville and Knox County have already paused new large data center approvals, with local leaders arguing companies should have to explain who pays, who benefits, and what risks residents take on before projects move forward.

None of this changes rebates or rules for home upgrades directly, but it affects your electric bill and the power plants serving your area, since utilities often pass the cost of new generation on to all ratepayers. With midterm elections approaching, decisions by county commissions, utility regulators, and state lawmakers will shape how these data center and power plant proposals play out, so it may be worth checking what candidates in your area say about utility bills and clean energy.