The rush of data centers and manufacturing around the U.S., including in Oklahoma, is resulting in growing energy prices.
When the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved an acquisition of the Green Country natural-gas powered plant in the Tulsa area, part of the decision was based on the ability to meet the growing need of electricity for a $4 billion project at Port Inola.
It wasn’t a data center but a data center is planned in Stillwater and another in Chickasha, although the Chickasha project will include its own gas plant.
Still, wholesale electricity prices across the nation are up 22% from 2024 and data centers are being blamed for driving energy prices higher. And ratepayer advocates warn that the energy demand from Big Tech is hitting—-you guessed it—consumers.
Business Insider highlighted 13 states where utility bills are expected to increase in the coming year because of the creation of more data centers.
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