Overview
- Virginia governor-elect Abigail Spanberger campaigned on requiring data centers to pay their fair share for grid upgrades.
- Georgia Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard won Public Service Commission seats after criticism of sweetheart utility deals for big tech.
- New Jersey governor-elect Mikie Sherrill supported measures that would require data centers to help fund grid modernization and renewable projects.
- A Virginia Legislature–commissioned study warned unconstrained growth could double the state’s electricity demand within a decade and add up to $40 per month to household bills.
- Virginia regulators are evaluating a special tariff that would shift more upfront power and transmission costs to data centers, and Spanberger has indicated she could seek legislation if needed.