Jun 3, 2026
People across the country are pushing back against new data center projects in their neighborhoods, citing concerns about surging electricity bills, strained water supplies and a lower quality of life, including health impacts. And now, there’s a familiar face in that fight: environmental activist Erin Brockovich, as she argues that, in many communities, data centers are being “shoved down their throats.”
On a recent episode of ”The Jim Acosta Show”, she said residents are learning about the programs in the proposal stage, but local officials are already limited in what they can say because they’ve signed non-disclosure agreements with tech companies.
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“There’s a lot of secrecy and NDAs at a very proposal stage,” Brockovich said.
In some cases, Brockovich claims, the data centers are presented to residents as warehouses rather than as the unpopular resource-gobbling facilities.
So, what are the key issues with data centers, and how can you help protect your money from the fallout?
What’s the problem with data centers?
AI has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our digital lives, from streaming services to business platforms to popular chat tools like Claude and ChatGPT. Those tools work by processing massive amounts of data on real-life servers — and that requires data centers.
However, there’s been high-profile backlash, including “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary’s proposed $100 billion data center in Utah, which would cover 10,000 acres. While O’Leary claimed detractors had ties to China, protestors say that’s not true.
“The only foreign operative here is a Canadian wealthy person trying to ruin our state,” Utah-based political strategist Gabi Finlayson told Business Insider, referring to O’Leary’s Canadian citizenship.
Brockovich noted to Acosta that “those three elder council men in Utah, they had the power to put a pause and to say we aren’t going to zone or permit anything – that’s their authority – until we have further studies on their impact.”
The pushback comes largely down to resources. Data centers require massive amounts of fresh water, electricity and land. There are currently over 4,300 data centers in the U.S., and a large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). That is about the same amount of water used by an entire town of up to 50,000 people.
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The strain on the power grid is just as significant. According to the EESI, utilities received requests for more than 700 gigawatts of power connections from data centers in 2025 alone, nearly double U.S. electricity consumption in 2023.
To meet that demand, utilities are investing heavily in new infrastructure and passing those costs on to consumers. In states with heavy data center concentrations, such as Virginia, wholesale electricity prices have jumped as much as 267% over the past five years, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects residential retail rates could rise up to 40% by 2030.
In Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox appears to be listening to residents, as he issued a framework on May 29 establishing “a higher bar for data center development in Utah,” which includes principles protecting utility customers and water resources.
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Protect yourself from rising energy costs
The massive proliferation of data centers today means that many consumers are feeling the pain in the form of higher energy prices. The good news is there are some steps you can take now to lower your energy bills.
Audit your energy usage. Knowing where your home is losing energy makes it easier to reduce costs. The average homeowner who implements audit recommendations saves around $685 annually — and at an average audit cost of $437, that can pay for itself in around seven months. Many utility companies offer free or subsidized audits, so check with your provider before paying out of pocket.
Look into community solar programs. You don’t need rooftop panels to benefit from solar energy. Community solar programs let you subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and receive credits on your regular utility bill. Typical savings range from 5% to 15% annually, making it a practical option if you can’t install solar panels yourself.
Lock in fixed-rate electricity plans where available. Some states, such as Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, allow you to lock in your electricity rate with a fixed-rate plan. These lock in the price you pay per kilowatt-hour for a set period, usually 12 to 36 months, which protects you from rate hikes. Just watch for expiration dates. When your contract ends, providers may automatically roll you onto a more expensive plan.
AI data centers aren’t going away. To protect yourself, look for ways to reduce your electricity costs in any way you can.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
