Impact on Electricity RatesWhile public concerns center on rising energy bills, empirical evidence indicates data center growth does not inherently raise costs for residential ratepayers. The purchase helped reduce local electricity rates by approximately $5 million in 2023 while drawing 180 megawatts from the grid. Water Consumption and Noise ProfilesAddressing resource use, Mayo notes that water consumption is dictated by cooling design choices rather than being inherent to data centers. Local hyperscale data centers provide a steady consumer for natural gas that pipeline capacity limitations might otherwise constrain, protecting broader oil production. National Security ContextThe national rush to build data centers also carries geopolitical implications.