Articles tagged with "utility-rates"
Microsoft Has a Plan to Keep Its Data Centers From Raising Your Electric Bill
Microsoft announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing community concerns about the impact of its data centers on local electricity rates and resources. Speaking at an event in Virginia, Microsoft vice chair Brad Smith acknowledged public worries about rising electricity costs, water supply, and job implications linked to data center expansions. The company committed to working with public utilities to request higher electricity rates for data centers, aiming to prevent these facilities from increasing residents’ utility bills. This move comes amid growing scrutiny and opposition to data centers across the U.S., where their energy demands contribute to rising electricity prices and have led to stalled or canceled projects. The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to collaborate with major tech companies, including Microsoft, to ensure data centers do not inflate customer utility bills. While the Trump administration has prioritized expediting data center development—removing environmental protections and encouraging construction on federal lands—local opposition has intensified, cutting across political lines. Rising electricity bills, driven by aging grid infrastructure and increased demand from data centers, have
energydata-centerselectricity-billselectric-gridenergy-consumptionMicrosoftutility-ratesCoal for Christmas: Local Advocacy Groups Deliver Coal, Protest Letters to JEA - CleanTechnica
Local advocacy and climate groups in Jacksonville, Florida—including Sierra Club Florida, CLEO Institute, NAACP, and St. John’s Riverkeepers—delivered coal and protest letters to Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) headquarters to oppose the continued operation of the Northside Generating Station coal plant and rising utility rates. They highlighted that retiring the coal units could save customers at least $20 million annually, potentially up to $60 million if fossil fuel prices remain high, while significantly improving public health by reducing harmful emissions. The groups urged JEA to prioritize cleaner air, lower bills, and a stronger commitment to renewable energy, especially as JEA prepares to release its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will shape future energy sourcing. Speakers from the advocacy groups emphasized the financial and health burdens coal imposes on local families, particularly amid a housing crisis, and criticized JEA’s plans to build an expensive gas plant that would worsen energy affordability. They advocated for solar energy as a cost
energycoal-powerrenewable-energyenergy-affordabilitysolar-energyutility-ratesenvironmental-advocacyElectric Utility Affordability Crisis Brewing in South Carolina - CleanTechnica
The article highlights an emerging electric utility affordability crisis in South Carolina, driven largely by rising energy demand from data centers and costly utility infrastructure projects. A recent executive order by former President Donald Trump threatens to block state-level consumer protections related to artificial intelligence infrastructure, including large load tariffs that require tech companies to share the financial burden of increased electricity usage. The Sierra Club, involved in settlements with Duke Energy, emphasizes that these tariffs are crucial for protecting residential and traditional business customers from excessive utility rate hikes. South Carolina utilities Dominion and Santee Cooper have filed for a proposed Canadys gas plant, with costs doubling from $2.5 billion to $5 billion due to supply chain issues and plant expansion. This plant is expected to serve new data centers, and regulators may decide on its approval by mid-2026. Dominion also plans a rate increase in early 2026. The Sierra Club urges the Public Service Commission (PSC) to rigorously scrutinize the Canadys project and insists that any approval should be
energydata-centersutility-ratesgas-plantclean-energySouth-Carolinaenergy-affordabilityAmerican Voters To MAGA - YOU'RE FIRED! - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights a significant electoral rebuke of Republican candidates, particularly those aligned with the MAGA movement, in recent American elections. Voters decisively rejected many Republican contenders across various races, from high-profile gubernatorial contests to local positions like the Georgia Public Service Commission. Notable victories for Democrats included Mamdani’s win over Andrew Cuomo in New York City by 9 points, Mikie Sherrill’s 13% margin in New Jersey’s governor race, and Abigail Spanberger becoming Virginia’s first female governor with a 57-42% victory. These outcomes reflect widespread voter dissatisfaction with the policies and rhetoric associated with the MAGA faction. The article places special emphasis on the Georgia Public Service Commission elections, which, while typically low-profile, carry national significance due to their impact on utility regulation and energy policy. Democrats Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson won seats on the commission, marking a potential turning point in a body that had been Republican-controlled since 2007. This
energypublic-service-commissionutility-ratesGeorgia-Powerelectionsenergy-policypolitical-impactDoes Electricity For An EV Cost Less Than Gasoline? It Depends. - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines whether electricity for electric vehicles (EVs) costs less than gasoline, highlighting that the answer depends heavily on geographic location, electricity pricing, and charging methods. While EV advocates often claim that driving an EV is cheaper than a gasoline car, this generalization requires context. In regions where electricity is inexpensive and gasoline prices are high, EVs offer a clear cost advantage. Conversely, in areas with high electricity costs and lower gasoline prices, the economic benefit of EVs diminishes or may disappear entirely. Additionally, charging at home during off-peak hours can reduce costs, whereas frequent use of DC fast chargers significantly increases the cost per 100 miles driven, sometimes exceeding that of gasoline vehicles. The article cites research showing that the average cost to drive an EV 100 miles in the U.S. is about $5.26, compared to $6.15 for hybrids and $12.80 for typical gasoline cars. However, using Level 3 DC fast chargers can
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargingelectricity-costgasoline-pricesDC-fast-chargingutility-ratesWhy US Power Bills Are Surging
The article explains the recent surge in U.S. electricity bills, which have risen by more than 30 percent on average since 2020, causing widespread financial strain for consumers and economic disruption across multiple sectors. Several factors contribute to this increase, including rising electricity demand, volatile fuel prices, inflation, tariffs, delays in building new transmission lines, and slow additions of new power generators. These combined pressures suggest that high electricity prices may persist for the foreseeable future. The impact is particularly severe on lower- and moderate-income households, many of whom are already struggling to pay bills and face increasing risks of power shutoffs. Despite the current spike in electricity costs, the article provides broader context by highlighting that overall household energy spending—covering electricity, natural gas, and gasoline—has remained relatively stable since 2000 when adjusted for inflation. This stability is partly due to a growing trend of electrification in homes, such as switching from gas furnaces to heat pumps and from gasoline vehicles to electric motors,
energyelectricity-pricespower-billsenergy-policyenergy-crisisutility-rateselectricity-demandCalifornia Opposes Rooftop Solar For All The Wrong Reasons
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarutility-ratesCalifornia-energy-policyclean-energyelectricity-generation