Overview

• In Prince William County, both GOP candidate Patrick Harders and Democrat George Stewart called for blocking future facilities, citing burdens on residents.
• Analysts report steep load growth tied to data centers, with McKinsey projecting 19%–22% annual global demand increases through 2030 and reporting that data centers could approach 14% of U.S. electricity use by decade’s end.
• Consumer advocates warn costs are shifting to households, with Maryland People’s Counsel David Lapp describing a transfer of wealth from residential customers to data center developers and utilities.
• Policy debate is widening, from proposals to require Big Tech to build dedicated on-site generation to federal moves to preserve dispatchable plants, as the Energy Department warns blackout risk could rise without adequate replacements.
• Developers are adjusting plans, with a Google project in Indiana withdrawn and some firms exploring Latin America as U.S. communities resist new campuses.