AG Marshall to Fox Business: Alabama 'on the forefront' of keeping data center costs off consumers' bills
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall advocates for responsible data center development, ensuring consumer utility costs are not impacted. His office is involved in a Public Service Commission review concerning power contracts between providers and data centers, while several Alabama cities have already placed moratoriums on new projects, and federal legislation has been proposed.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has asserted that data center development in the state presents an economic opportunity, provided it proceeds responsibly, without burdening Alabama consumers with increased electricity and water costs. Marshall discussed these concerns on Fox Business Network, highlighting that several Alabama cities, including Fort Payne, Cullman, Birmingham, Leeds, and Homewood, have already enacted moratoriums on new data center projects this year.
Central to Marshall's stance is the ongoing review by the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding how it approves power contracts between utility providers and data centers. Marshall's office has actively participated in this docket, with Olivia Martin, chief of the consumer interest division, arguing that commissioners must vote on all large-load contracts themselves, challenging a 1996 order that allowed PSC staff approval. This intervention coincides with a separate proceeding where Marshall's office is pushing to lower natural gas utility Spire Alabama's authorized profit.
Marshall also addressed differing political approaches to data center development. While he believes in transparency and careful regulation rather than outright bans, Democrat gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones has called for a one-year statewide moratorium. Separately, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) has co-sponsored a bill aiming for a temporary nationwide ban on new data center construction. Marshall emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that protects consumers while maintaining Alabama's attractiveness for economic development.