Utility Customers Subsidize Data Center Power Line Costs
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Research & Studies
- Analysis from Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University - Found that electric bills are on track to rise an average of 8% nationwide by 2030 and as much as 25% in places like Virginia due to data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
Organizations & Institutions
- Union of Concerned Scientists - Organization where Mike Jacobs works, focusing on transmission topics related to the electrical grid.
- Dominion Energy - An electric utility company that serves most of Virginia, mentioned for its plans to build new power lines for data centers.
- NPR - National Public Radio, the organization that produces the podcast.
- Carnegie Mellon University
- North Carolina State University
People Mentioned
- Mike Jacobs (Union of Concerned Scientists) - A "grid geek" who investigates how new power line construction for data centers is impacting customer electric bills.
- Aisha Khan (Dominion Energy) - Represented Dominion Energy in a discussion about a new power line project.
- Rob Richardson (Dominion Energy) - Represented Dominion Energy in a discussion about a new power line project.
Websites & Online Resources
- plus.npr.org - Website to sign up for NPR Plus, a recurring donation service for NPR podcasts.
- givewell.org - Website for GiveWell, a nonprofit that provides research on high-impact giving.
- bombas.com - Website for Bombas, a company selling socks and apparel.
- go.packaapparel.com - Website for Packa, a company selling alpaca fiber hoodies and socks.
Other Resources
- Data Center Alley, Northern Virginia (Loudoun County) - The location where the podcast host observed numerous large buildings and power lines associated with data centers.
- Cashiers Blue - A proposed solar farm project in southern Virginia that would require power line upgrades.