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Hard Fork · Friday, September 11, 2026

Data Centers Strain Grids and Raise Costs, According to Officials

Officials are expressing concern that hyperscale AI data centers are consuming enormous amounts of power, potentially exceeding grid capacity and driving up costs for local rate payers. New York Governor Kathy Hochul specifically stated her refusal to let these costs be passed on to consumers.

personKathy Hochul

The tape

3 quotes
These hyperscale AI data centers consume enormous amounts of power.
Jasmine's son
Truly threatening to outpace our grids capacity, and they drive up costs for local rate payers.
Jasmine's son
And I refuse to let those costs be passed on to New Yorkers, who already paid too much for their utility bills.
Kathy Hochul
Heard on Hard Fork — “The Ezra Klein Show: The A.I. Revolt Is Here, published Friday, September 11, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.07
Data Centers Strain Grids and Raise Costs, According to Officials — Heardvine