A new report into the seismic demands of AI data centers on the power grid claims that electricity rates for individuals and small businesses could increase vastly in the face of data center expansion from the likes of Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. The New York Times reports that AI data centers could see their demand on the country’s electricity could increase to as much as 12% by 2028, up from just 4% a couple of years ago. Furthermore, high-tech giants are building their own power plants, becoming consumers and producers of electricity in a way that is fundamentally reshaping the U.S. electricity market. According to the report, small businesses and households could see their bills go up disproportionately as a result.
What do I do if the government absolutely won’t limit data center usage, absolutely won’t build more renewables, and is actively rigging elections so they stay in power? Hypothetically.
easiest: become a refugee
hardest: stay and fight, convince others around you that the government is not working in their interest, gather momentum and eventually one thing leads to another, then revolution !