North Carolina residents protest data centre plans, warn Australia of rising power costs

A crowd of several hundred assembled on the steps of a Durham courthouse in June to protest a proposed 18% increase in electricity rates, which they attribute to upcoming data-centre projects. The demonstrators, including local activists and residents, argued that even unbuilt facilities are inflating costs and raising environmental and health worries such as noise and diesel emissions. Duke Energy has applied to the state utilities commission for the rate hike, noting that data-centre developers have previously benefited from tax breaks on electricity usage.

Speakers highlighted the rapid growth of U.S. data centres—from about 3,000 in 2021 to roughly 4,000 in 2026—and warned that Australia, which currently operates 165 data centres with 225 more in development, could face similar challenges. Scholars and industry analysts urged Australian policymakers to demand transparency from operators and to tie data-centre development to renewable-energy projects, suggesting co-location with other industries to mitigate resource use. The protest reflects broader anxieties about corporate influence, AI-driven job loss, and the need for stricter oversight of digital-infrastructure expansion.