Ayotte cites energy costs in opposing massive data centers in New Hampshire
Governor Kelly Ayotte is strongly opposing legislation in New Hampshire that would ease the development of data centers, citing concerns about already high electricity costs and strain on the energy grid. A bill aiming to make data centers a permitted use by right in certain zones stalled in the State House, with Ayotte advocating for local input on such projects.
Governor Kelly Ayotte has expressed strong opposition to data center development in New Hampshire, primarily due to concerns about the state's electricity costs and grid capacity. In an interview for "CloseUp," Ayotte stated that the New England grid's capacity to accommodate data centers without increasing energy costs is limited to about 300 to 400 MW, roughly the consumption of a single large facility, warning that further development could cause energy costs to "skyrocket."
This week, legislation intended to simplify the construction of data centers by making them a permitted use by right on commercial or industrial land was tabled by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Governor Ayotte supports local control over such developments, emphasizing the importance of community voice. The governor highlighted that many New Hampshire businesses and residents are already struggling with high energy bills and that data centers, while crucial for the digital economy, are massive energy consumers.