POLITICO Tech Why energy bills could be AI’s new political problem
24 snips
Nov 6, 2025 Ian Stevenson, an energy and public lands reporter at POLITICO's E&E News, discusses the unexpected intersection of AI and voter concerns over energy costs. He explains how Democrats in key states are emphasizing data center impacts on energy affordability. With AI infrastructure on the rise, Stevenson highlights potential political roadblocks that could emerge in coming elections. The conversation also covers how local elections revealed growing voter awareness of energy issues, signaling significant implications for future campaigns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Data Centers As A Political Flashpoint
- Abigail Spanberger campaigned on making data centers "pay their fair share" to lower Virginians' power bills.
- Voter anxiety over rising energy costs linked to AI data centers drove this message's traction in the race.
Local Backlash In Data Center Hubs
- Northern Virginia hosts hundreds of data centers, creating local land, water, and energy anxieties.
- Those local tensions turned data centers into a tangible, place-based political issue for voters.
Legislative Pushes And Local Limits
- Lawmakers introduced bills to regulate data centers and candidates campaigned to limit proximity to homes and schools.
- Some local counties also began pushing back against new data center construction.