“Let’s Stop Data Center Villainy” by Patty Durand
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Atlanta, GA – Every week blows my mind for crazy amounts of energy news, and this week was no exception. Was it always like this?
One crazy big news was Wednesday’s announcement that the Department of Energy was loaning Southern Company $26.5 billion for grid investments that would somehow save customers $7 billion. There is so much wrong with this I can hardly see straight.
This needs its own newsletter which is coming, but for now let me ask you: If I buy a sweater that was originally $100 but is priced down to $80, did my household save $20, or did it spend $80? Because that is the nonsensical framing going on here.
And isn’t this grid expansion for data centers underway being paid for by data centers as Georgia Power & PSC Chair Shaw claim they are over and over? So who is that alleged $7 billion savings for? Not us, surely.
And didn’t Congressional Republicans refuse to fund ACA health care subsidies for 2026 because government is too big and the $30 billion cost is too expensive? But three months later, $26.5 billion is not too expensive to subsidize data centers for Southern Company’s grid expansion? What?!
This blatant corporate welfare is disgusting. Poor people: no insurance for you! Just, die (people without health insurance have a 40% increase mortality).
Rich people: subsidies galore!
Speaking of rich people let’s look at what Southern Company CEO Chris Womack has been earning since you are paying for it. In 2023 & 2024 he earned $47 million. His 2025 compensation hasn’t been released yet, but we can see it will be $24 million.
(Southern Company 2025 Proxy Statement page 64)
That means Southern Company CEO earned $71 million in three years.
Don’t ever talk to me about how it’s not government’s responsibility to reduce poverty, okay Commissioner Pridenomore with your hateful posts on X.com about that? Unless you also oppose corporate subsidies. Anyway…
Let’s stop data center villainy
There is a big battle underway and it’s time for you to enter the field: first, thank you for those of you who emailed & called PSC Utilities Director Tom Bond asking him not to testify at in opposition of Senate bill 94 to reestablish the Consumer Utility Counsel, because that worked. He did not testify, and it was voted out of the Senate Regulated Industries committee last Tuesday! Thank you!!
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