The group argues that the rapid, unchecked growth of AI and cryptocurrency data centers is placing an unsustainable strain on the power grid. According to Candice Fortin, energy affordability campaigns manager at 350.org, the current infrastructure is being pushed to its limits by tech firms, forcing ordinary families to bear the brunt of an energy crisis they did not create. In 27 states, utility companies retain the legal authority to disconnect electricity for non-payment, a practice advocates describe as life-threatening during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
The Battle Over Energy Priorities
Legislative efforts to address the issue are gaining traction, including the proposed Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This push comes on the heels of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which revealed that utilities disconnected households more than 13.4 million times in 2024. While companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta reported collective profits exceeding $80 billion in early 2026, millions of Americans remain vulnerable. Experts emphasize that air conditioning is a critical, life-saving intervention, yet roughly 3 million households within the current heat-risk zone lack access to cooling systems entirely, leaving them exposed as temperatures continue to soar.
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