You Are Already Paying For The AI Boom.

Some states made data centers pay thiere own way. Others handed the bill to you. Virginia settled this question in 1882.

By: Benjamin Jealous

Outlets: New Jersey Urban News

Published: July 28, 2026

Words: 793

Last Updated: 6 days, 4 hours ago

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Pull up your electric bill. Somewhere in that number, you are paying for a building you will never enter.

Data centers are going up everywhere. They need enormous amounts of electricity. Somebody must pay to connect them and build the plants and lines they need.

In state after state, that somebody is you.

Not everywhere. Texas requires the largest new power users to pay more of their connection costs and cut demand when the grid …

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