AI Data Centers Are Driving North Carolina’s Power Demand. Trump is Blocking the Cheapest Energy to Meet It.

Raleigh, N.C. —North Carolina’s fast-growing data center industry is driving a surge in electricity demand across the state. But instead of expanding the fastest and cheapest sources of power, Donald Trump has blocked hundreds of clean energy projects nationwide—many in North Carolina—pushing utility costs higher for families. In fact, a new analysis just found that suppressing clean energy will “nearly double” the rate hikes and inflation coming from data center expansion.

In last month’s State of the Union, Trump announced a data center “pledge,” which purports to push Big Tech to pay for the immense power and infrastructure data centers require. But this is just a toothless attempt at damage control. Trump is not new to empty promises on energy, repeatedly promising to cut energy costs in half, only to have electricity prices spike by as much as 13% nationwide while utilities across the country are seeking billions in rate increases.

New polling from Climate Power and Blue Rose Research shows Americans are increasingly worried about the impact of data centers on their utility bills. In fact, in head-to-head comparisons with other potential concerns, utility costs ranked as the top issue for respondents.

“North Carolina’s energy needs are growing fast, and renewable energy is the cleanest, cheapest way to meet them,” said Terryn Hall, Climate Power’s North Carolina Director. “More data centers in our state means higher utility bills for residents, especially if they are not powered by clean energy and if Republicans in Washington keep blocking the new clean energy production we need. Thankfully Governor Stein’s bipartisan Energy Policy Task Force has already put forth meaningful recommendations on how to address the challenges data centers present. ”

Since Trump was elected, more than 350 clean energy projects nationwide—including nine in North Carolina—have been canceled,  delayed, or lost federal funding, representing over $61 billion in lost investment and enough clean energy to power more than 14 million homes. In North Carolina alone, nearly 2,635  jobs and $2.4 billion in investments delayed or lost, even as electricity demand surges, driven in part by the rapid growth of data centers supporting AI and cloud computing. 

Despite these rising costs and demand, Republican lawmakers, including North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11), have backed Trump’s energy agenda and supported legislation that gutted clean energy development, putting thousands of North Carolina clean energy jobs and billions in investment at risk. 

###