Michael Vose & Glen Lyons: We have a better alternative to data center moratorium
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has proposed a statewide data center moratorium due to concerns over electricity costs and supply. However, the authors argue for promoting House Bill 672, a law signed by Ayotte, which allows data centers to develop their own off-grid power solutions, thereby avoiding costs to existing ratepayers.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte has questioned who should bear the cost of supplying the massive amount of electricity required by data centers, proposing a statewide moratorium in New Hampshire. She cites concerns that the state lacks sufficient energy to support hyperscale data centers without increasing electricity costs for residents and businesses.
Michael Vose, former chair of the N.H. House Science, Technology, & Energy Committee and sponsor of HB 672, along with Glen Lyons, founder of Advocates for Consumer Regulated Electricity, contend that the solution is not to deter data centers but to encourage them to provide their own power. They highlight House Bill 672, a law signed by Gov. Ayotte last year, which permits off-grid electricity providers to generate and sell power directly to customers, isolated from the existing electric grid.
An HB 672 project means the customer and power provider handle all electricity infrastructure and costs, preventing their demand from impacting New Hampshire ratepayers or the regional power system. The authors argue this law provides an economic development opportunity, allowing New Hampshire to attract large power users like data centers by offering a faster path to abundant power without burdening existing customers. While acknowledging local concerns such as land use, water, and noise, they assert these are local issues and not valid reasons for a statewide moratorium, especially given the existing solution for electricity supply.