Peter Clark: Political winds shifting on data centers (Opinion)

Peter Clark's opinion piece in the Charleston Gazette-Mail asserts that political sentiment is shifting against unchecked data center development, citing Maine's enactment of the nation's first statewide moratorium on mid-size and larger data center construction. Lawmakers there are pausing buildouts to study the environmental and energy grid impacts. This move signals a broader reconsideration by states that previously competed to attract data centers, as they now grapple with surging energy demand driven by the artificial intelligence boom, which the Energy Department predicts could triple U.S. data center consumption by 2028. The article illustrates this tension with examples from other states. Northern Virginia, a major data hub, is experiencing severe strain on its electrical infrastructure, including a recent incident where a voltage fluctuation disconnected 60 data centers. Virginia and Georgia, both significant data center markets, are debating policies, with Virginia considering scaling back tax exemptions and Georgia temporarily halting tax exemptions for new projects. The article mentions Google's acquisition of 1,700 acres in Putnam County, West Virginia, for a potential data center as an example of ongoing development amidst these policy shifts. Clark argues that focusing on incentives or restrictions addresses symptoms rather than the root cause: the inability to scale infrastructure quickly enough. He points to regulatory hurdles and lengthy permitting processes, such as those that delayed the Vogtle 3 nuclear reactor and microgrid installations, as key impediments to grid expansion. He concludes that policymakers should not limit growth but instead streamline and simplify the permitting process for grid expansion to support current and future energy demands.