Zero: The Climate Race Big Take: AI data centers use a lot of energy. You may be paying for it
Oct 6, 2025
Josh Saul, a Bloomberg reporter, dives into the staggering energy demands of AI data centers and the ripple effect on local electricity prices. He recounts the story of a Baltimore resident facing skyrocketing bills due to nearby data centers. The conversation highlights how utility companies navigate surging demand while local communities grapple with rising costs. Saul also reveals that nearly 70% of areas with price spikes are close to data center activity, emphasizing the urgent need for fairer energy pricing structures.
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Baltimore Resident's Strained Budget
- Kevin Stanley, a 57-year-old Baltimore resident on disability, saw his energy bills jump dramatically after data centers grew nearby.
- He cut basics like groceries and haircuts and stretched diabetes medication because bills rose about 80% over three years.
Data Centers Use Country-Scale Power
- Bloomberg compared global data center electricity use to countries and found data centers consume as much as medium-sized nations.
- Projections show data centers could be over 4% of global electricity by 2035, making them a top-four consumer.
Price Spikes Cluster Near Data Hubs
- Reporters matched real-time grid node prices with data center locations and found localized price effects.
- Seventy percent of nodes with price increases were within 50 miles of significant data center activity.