Alabama GOP runoff targets solar power and data centers in public utility commission race

A Republican runoff for the Alabama Public Service Commission has turned solar power and data centers into campaign villains. Candidate Jim Zeigler is framing both as threats to local electricity costs and reliability, tapping into broader GOP opposition to renewable energy. The race shows how data center growth is reshaping energy politics in the South, with solar farms caught in the crossfire. The article covers the intersection of AI-driven electricity demand, state utility regulation, and climate policy. It highlights how a once obscure commission is now a battleground over who pays for new grid infrastructure and whether renewables have a place in that mix. For anyone tracking carbon markets or grid decarbonization, this is a concrete example of political risk for solar deployment.