"They are owned by the richest men in the world," said Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas governor.
Hinojosa criticized the current regulatory environment surrounding rapid site construction.
"We're all footing the bill. There are no rules.
It is the Wild West of data centers," she said.
Consumer advocacy organizations also raised concerns regarding industry lobbying at the state level.
"It is disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, that the same tech companies signing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge are simultaneously opposing efforts at the state level to force them to deliver on their promises," said Matthew Freedman, staff attorney for the Utility Reform Network.
State responses vary widely across the country.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order placing a one-year moratorium on large server warehouse construction.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted legislation prohibiting utilities from transferring data center energy expenses to residential customers.
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Meanwhile, dozens of state legislatures and utility commissions continue reviewing mandates requiring data centers to fund their own power infrastructure.
