Soaring electric bills are no longer just a household headache. They’re dominating headlines and igniting fierce campaign battles. Families across America are staring at double-digit hikes year after year, squeezing budgets already strained by inflation. The culprit? Surging electricity demand from AI data centers, energy-hungry behemoths run by Big Tech giants.
These facilities devour power on a scale that dwarfs entire cities, demanding 100% reliable electricity around the clock. Weather-dependent wind and solar, championed by green advocates and these same Big Tech corporations, simply can’t deliver that dependability. When the wind dies or the sun sets, the lights flicker. AI servers crash without the reliability provided by natural gas, coal, and nuclear power.
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Blame is flying fast. Wind and solar proponents point fingers at these data centers as the primary drivers of grid strain, while ignoring the fact that they can’t provide the needed, reliable power. These same activists’ climate policies have shut down coal plants before their time.
The push for net-zero fantasies has left us vulnerable: increasing unreliable wind and solar with massive government subsidies and closing coal plants at a galloping clip. Add in new demand from AI data centers, and we have more demand than electricity supply, driving up prices for all.
Green energy advocates are not wrong about the demand explosion: AI’s insatiable appetite could require power equivalent to several nuclear plants per major facility. But the real scandal lies in how we’ve gotten here. Under Biden-era climate policies, the administration aggressively shuttered viable coal plants well before the end of their useful lives, prioritizing climate ideology over reliability.
These closures slashed affordable, on-demand baseload power, forcing utilities to scramble and pass skyrocketing costs to consumers. The result? Families footing the bill for a green transition that benefits elites while leaving the grid fragile and their wallets lighter.
Enter President Donald Trump, who has wisely reversed course. His administration is halting future coal plant closures, recognizing that we need every ounce of dispatchable generation to meet escalating demand. Coal, nuclear, natural gas: These are the workhorses that keep the lights on when renewables falter.
Preserving them isn’t about clinging to the past. It’s about pragmatism in an era of AI-driven growth. Without a reliable baseload, blackouts loom, and everyday Americans pay the price — literally.
The path forward must prioritize protecting regular people from Big Tech’s voracious needs. These companies — Google, Microsoft, Amazon — sit on a collective war chest of $368 billion in cash reserves. They’re not struggling startups. They’re trillion-dollar titans profiting handsomely.
Yet, they’ve been allowed to tap the public grid, driving up costs for all. The solution is straightforward and fair: Require them to fund their own power sources before the meter. In other words, build dedicated generation — be it natural gas, small modular reactors, or even wind and solar paired with batteries (a very expensive option) — on-site or nearby, independent of the shared grid.
They should cover all hookup costs to the grid for backup reliability and, crucially, sell any excess power back to the grid, turning them into net contributors rather than parasites that enjoy low-cost electricity at regular users’ expense.
This isn’t a pie-in-the-sky policy. It’s actionable and already gaining traction. Take New Hampshire’s smart move: exempting data centers from lengthy approvals by the state electricity commissions. By streamlining permitting, the state slashes years off construction timelines, unleashing private investment without taxpayer subsidies.
Other states should follow suit: Cut the red tape, mandate self-sufficiency, and require Big Tech companies to foot their own bill for their success. No more socializing costs while privatizing profits.
Critics might cry foul, claiming this stifles innovation. Nonsense. These firms have the capital and expertise to innovate their energy solutions, from advanced batteries to collocated nuclear. Allowing grid dependency only invites cronyism, where utilities hike rates and families suffer.
Imagine the relief: No more 10% to 20% annual bill spikes for seniors on fixed incomes or parents juggling mortgages and groceries. With AI projected to consume 8% of U.S. power by 2030, up from 4% now, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
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Politicians must act decisively. Trump’s coal reversal is a start. We need to pair it with Big Tech accountability legislation at the state or federal level. Exemptions from bureaucracy, mandatory off-grid generation, and full cost recovery — these tools shield the little guy while fueling America’s AI edge.
Big Tech can afford it. Families cannot. It’s time to stop the power grab and put people first.
Frank Lasee is the president of Truth in Energy and Climate and a former Wisconsin state senator.
