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California Data Center Power Bill Triggers Nationwide Community Pushback
California lawmakers are drafting legislation that would require data‑center owners to report their power‑usage‑effectiveness ratios twice a year to the state Energy Commission. The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan (AB‑222), is aimed at curbing the rapid expansion of AI‑driven facilities that have helped push electricity prices up roughly 96 % between 2014 and 2024. The state hosts about 300 data centers that support online banking, video conferencing, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
A peer‑reviewed study published in *Nature Cities* mapped 4,283 U.S. data centers and found that 97.5 % sit inside metropolitan or micropolitan areas, with the strongest predictor of location being nearby power‑generation capacity. The research also highlighted a link between former coal‑plant sites and new data‑center development.
Local backlash is growing. Loudoun County, Virginia – home to more than 250 facilities – is considering a pause on all new data‑center applications, while Fairfax County faces protests over a proposed campus less than 100 feet from homes. In Wiscasset, Maine, a $5 billion data‑center proposal caused the community to lose nearly $250,000 in federal affordable‑housing funds.
Public sentiment is shifting as well. A recent poll shows opposition to nearby data centers rising from 28 % to 41 % within six months, while support fell from 37 % to 24 %.
Entities
American Rescue Plan Act · Juli Briskman · Maurizio Porfiri · Protect Wiscasset · Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan · Richard Davis · Tom Kordic · Wiscasset, Maine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan introduced bill AB‑222 requiring data‑center owners to submit power‑usage‑effectiveness ratios biannually to the California Energy Commission. dailycallernewsfoundation.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Loudoun County, Virginia, is considering a pause on all new data‑center project applications. wtop.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Public opposition to nearby data centers rose from 28 % to 41 % within six months, while support fell from 37 % to 24 %. www.progressivepolicy.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The strongest predictor of where data centers are located is the generating capacity of nearby power plants. www.newswise.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] California has about 300 data centers supporting online banking, video conferencing, cloud computing and AI. dailycaller.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A study published in *Nature Cities* mapped 4,283 data centers across the contiguous United States, finding 97.5 % located within metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas. marketbusinessnews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] California electricity prices rose roughly 96 % between 2014 and 2024. conservativedailynews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Wiscasset, Maine, a proposed $5 billion data‑center plan caused the community to lose nearly $250,000 in federal affordable‑housing funds. maineinsights.com