North Carolina lawmakers have introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act to regulate the growth of large data centers and AI infrastructure. The bill aims to prevent residential utility customers from paying for the grid upgrades and new power plants required to meet the massive energy demands of the tech sector. The proposal includes requirements for data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs and restricts the retirement of baseload power plants until reliable replacements are online. This move highlights the growing tension between rapid AI expansion and the stability of regional energy grids.
