The high price of AI: Early optimism runs into current reality

By: Lucy Harper

Outlets: NJ State House News Service

Published: July 14, 2026

Words: 1,784

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

Body Text Preview

The state’s big dream of turning New Jersey into the “Silicon Valley” of artificial intelligence has run smack into the reality of soaring energy costs, the unrealistic ambitions of overly optimistic lawmakers and a public backlash against the growing number of data centers.

Former Gov. Phil Murphy established the Next NJ program to provide $500 million in tax credits for the construction of data centers, along with other financial incentives and support. He …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us