Ben Inskeep
@beninskeep.bsky.social
Program Director at Citizens Action Coalition | Working on a clean, affordable, and just energy transition | He/Him | Views expressed are mine
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We (Citizens Action Coalition) are now tracking more than 10,000 MW of data centers being planned and constructed in Indiana by the Big 4 tech companies. These facilities could use more than 80% of our electricity.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
maybe some people don't think our goal as a society should be more efficiently computed slop from a plagiarism machine that jacks up our utility bills while poisoning the environment and making us dumber
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
maybe some people don't think our goal as a society should be more efficiently computed slop from a plagiarism machine that jacks up our utility bills while poisoning the environment and making us dumber
New🔴: NIPSCO is requesting IURC approval of a 15-year special contract with a 2,400 MW data center customer, whose identity is not revealed but is "one of the largest corporations in the world."
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New🔴: NIPSCO is requesting IURC approval of a 15-year special contract with a 2,400 MW data center customer, whose identity is not revealed but is "one of the largest corporations in the world."
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
The data centers will be served with gas, batteries, and possibly coal.
A new 500 MW customer -- most likely, another data center -- is proposing to come to Fort Wayne, according to a new AEP submission. Its ~10 miles away from a 1,200 MW Google data center under construction.
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
A new 500 MW customer -- most likely, another data center -- is proposing to come to Fort Wayne, according to a new AEP submission. Its ~10 miles away from a 1,200 MW Google data center under construction.
We (Citizens Action Coalition) are now tracking more than 10,000 MW of data centers being planned and constructed in Indiana by the Big 4 tech companies. These facilities could use more than 80% of our electricity.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
We (Citizens Action Coalition) are now tracking more than 10,000 MW of data centers being planned and constructed in Indiana by the Big 4 tech companies. These facilities could use more than 80% of our electricity.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Dozens of additional large data centers have also been proposed by others.
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
🔴 NEW 🔴 Lomborg for years has argued in op-eds, lectures, and the media that there are more important global issues to prioritize than climate change, writing in April that “it is not the existential threat that some would have us believe.”
Bill Gates Gave $3.5M to Think Tank Run by Climate Crisis Denier Bjorn Lomborg
Tax records reveal that the billionaire’s foundation has donated for years to Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
🔴 NEW 🔴 Lomborg for years has argued in op-eds, lectures, and the media that there are more important global issues to prioritize than climate change, writing in April that “it is not the existential threat that some would have us believe.”
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
i'm very glad this technology is being forced onto us everywhere on all levels
November 7, 2025 at 1:32 AM
i'm very glad this technology is being forced onto us everywhere on all levels
The ink isn't even dry on AES Indiana's IRP, which found SMRs are not cost effective under any scenario, and the utility is announcing it is doing a study on siting SMRs at its power plants!?
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The ink isn't even dry on AES Indiana's IRP, which found SMRs are not cost effective under any scenario, and the utility is announcing it is doing a study on siting SMRs at its power plants!?
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
More imprudent and wasteful spending that will result in rate hikes for Indy residents.
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
AI and Crypto data centers need to be the first ones to lose power in a brown out.
November 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
AI and Crypto data centers need to be the first ones to lose power in a brown out.
A data center development recently caught ignoring environmental laws in Indiana is also being picketed by union workers for relying primarily on out-of-state labor.
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A data center development recently caught ignoring environmental laws in Indiana is also being picketed by union workers for relying primarily on out-of-state labor.
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
Not only do data centers provide few permanent jobs, they aren't even using local labor to build 'em! local150.org/news/local-1...
New: Duke Energy Indiana is proposing to force ratepayers to subsidize a transmission project to serve a Meta data center and other C&I customers at River Ridge.
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
November 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New: Duke Energy Indiana is proposing to force ratepayers to subsidize a transmission project to serve a Meta data center and other C&I customers at River Ridge.
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
The cost of the project just 🚨doubled🚨 to $216 million.
Data centers are making your utility bill go up📈
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
Went to a community input meeting for new data center zoning
Everyone hates data centers, it’s pretty great
Everyone hates data centers, it’s pretty great
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Went to a community input meeting for new data center zoning
Everyone hates data centers, it’s pretty great
Everyone hates data centers, it’s pretty great
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
DTE is teaming up with big AI to raid Michiganders’ wallets, jacking up utility bills so billionaires can power a massive data center that will suck up 25% more power than DTE customers already use.
Tell me, how does this help the rest of us?
www.mlive.com/news/2025/10...
Tell me, how does this help the rest of us?
www.mlive.com/news/2025/10...
DTE inks deal to serve big data center that will demand 25% more power from grid
Amid worries data centers powering artificial intelligence could inflate utility bills in Michigan, DTE promises the deal will help with affordability for other customers.
www.mlive.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
DTE is teaming up with big AI to raid Michiganders’ wallets, jacking up utility bills so billionaires can power a massive data center that will suck up 25% more power than DTE customers already use.
Tell me, how does this help the rest of us?
www.mlive.com/news/2025/10...
Tell me, how does this help the rest of us?
www.mlive.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
spanfeller makes an oblique data center reference in her speech about making big energy users pay their fair share, to thunderous applause
November 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
spanfeller makes an oblique data center reference in her speech about making big energy users pay their fair share, to thunderous applause
CenterPoint has proposed a $29.9 million transmission project to serve "Project Raider" located along the transmission line stretching between two coal plants in southwest Indiana.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
November 4, 2025 at 9:57 PM
CenterPoint has proposed a $29.9 million transmission project to serve "Project Raider" located along the transmission line stretching between two coal plants in southwest Indiana.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
Project Raider will use 600 MW of power, suggesting it is a data center or very large industrial customer.
New analysis by AES Indiana shows that new nuclear SMRs are wildly uneconomic and would significantly raise utility bills for Hoosiers, even assuming big price declines by 2035 and lavish subsidies by federal and state government.
November 4, 2025 at 8:16 PM
New analysis by AES Indiana shows that new nuclear SMRs are wildly uneconomic and would significantly raise utility bills for Hoosiers, even assuming big price declines by 2035 and lavish subsidies by federal and state government.
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
Electricity now costs 267% more (!!) for 1 month vs. what it cost 5 years ago near data center hotspots. Awesome reporting from Josh Saul @dinabass.bsky.social Leonardo Nicoletti @naurtorious.bsky.social Demetrios Pogkas (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring
Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.
www.bloomberg.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Electricity now costs 267% more (!!) for 1 month vs. what it cost 5 years ago near data center hotspots. Awesome reporting from Josh Saul @dinabass.bsky.social Leonardo Nicoletti @naurtorious.bsky.social Demetrios Pogkas (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
You should read the whole piece from @edzitron.com but if you only read one paragraph, make it this one: OpenAI has burned so much money that there is no more money.
Read that again: it's not just OpenAI that's broke. All of VC is broke.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-case-aga...
Read that again: it's not just OpenAI that's broke. All of VC is broke.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-case-aga...
September 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
You should read the whole piece from @edzitron.com but if you only read one paragraph, make it this one: OpenAI has burned so much money that there is no more money.
Read that again: it's not just OpenAI that's broke. All of VC is broke.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-case-aga...
Read that again: it's not just OpenAI that's broke. All of VC is broke.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-case-aga...
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
Tell the PA Department of Environmental Protection to DENY the Homer City fracked gas plant air permit!
This will be one of the largest fracked gas plants in the country and it will power an energy-sucking data center.
Take action by Sept. 29th: secure.everyaction.com/DztxH0ymAUW5...
This will be one of the largest fracked gas plants in the country and it will power an energy-sucking data center.
Take action by Sept. 29th: secure.everyaction.com/DztxH0ymAUW5...
Ask DEP to Deny the Homer City Air Permit
Take action now to tell the PA DEP to deny the air permit for the massive Homer City fracked gas plant which could power a massive data center. This project would threaten the health of surrounding co...
secure.everyaction.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Tell the PA Department of Environmental Protection to DENY the Homer City fracked gas plant air permit!
This will be one of the largest fracked gas plants in the country and it will power an energy-sucking data center.
Take action by Sept. 29th: secure.everyaction.com/DztxH0ymAUW5...
This will be one of the largest fracked gas plants in the country and it will power an energy-sucking data center.
Take action by Sept. 29th: secure.everyaction.com/DztxH0ymAUW5...
The moment Google withdrew its petition for an AI data center in Indianapolis last night.🎉
Organizing works! We can win when we fight back against Big Tech!
AI data centers are NOT inevitable. This is the ninth one stopped in Indiana thanks to communities organizing in opposition. 💪
Organizing works! We can win when we fight back against Big Tech!
AI data centers are NOT inevitable. This is the ninth one stopped in Indiana thanks to communities organizing in opposition. 💪
September 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The moment Google withdrew its petition for an AI data center in Indianapolis last night.🎉
Organizing works! We can win when we fight back against Big Tech!
AI data centers are NOT inevitable. This is the ninth one stopped in Indiana thanks to communities organizing in opposition. 💪
Organizing works! We can win when we fight back against Big Tech!
AI data centers are NOT inevitable. This is the ninth one stopped in Indiana thanks to communities organizing in opposition. 💪
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
It’s important for everybody to understand that when your electricity bill doubles, it is doubling to pay for data centers which will be housing mainframes to operate AI using your electricity and your water, and you will pay through the nose to develop a technology to replace you
September 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It’s important for everybody to understand that when your electricity bill doubles, it is doubling to pay for data centers which will be housing mainframes to operate AI using your electricity and your water, and you will pay through the nose to develop a technology to replace you
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
The IBJ - Indianapolis Business Journal just layed out the whole Google data center proposal in ONE article
Whew 😲😲😲
www.ibj.com/articles/faq...
Whew 😲😲😲
www.ibj.com/articles/faq...
September 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The IBJ - Indianapolis Business Journal just layed out the whole Google data center proposal in ONE article
Whew 😲😲😲
www.ibj.com/articles/faq...
Whew 😲😲😲
www.ibj.com/articles/faq...
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
ICYMI: LG&E wants to spend $3B on 2 new gas plants & extend the life of two new coal plants, largely due to future data center demand. Other states have higher energy bills now because of data centers, but LG&E says it has a mechanism to protect KY ratepayers... which some are very skeptical of.
LG&E says $3B expansion will protect Kentucky ratepayers from data center costs, others are doubtful
Kentucky’s largest utility company is proposing a mechanism to make new data centers pay their fair share, but first wants approval to build $3 billion of new gas plants.
www.lpm.org
September 2, 2025 at 1:13 PM
ICYMI: LG&E wants to spend $3B on 2 new gas plants & extend the life of two new coal plants, largely due to future data center demand. Other states have higher energy bills now because of data centers, but LG&E says it has a mechanism to protect KY ratepayers... which some are very skeptical of.
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
"A secretive appropriations process killed or reined in three bills regulating the use of pricing algorithms. A bill to monitor data center electricity use was also culled." #California
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
California lawmakers kill plans to curb AI-manipulated prices
Three bills to regulate AI price discrimination died or were scaled back in the state legislature during a secretive appropriations process.
calmatters.org
September 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"A secretive appropriations process killed or reined in three bills regulating the use of pricing algorithms. A bill to monitor data center electricity use was also culled." #California
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
Reposted by Ben Inskeep
Your power bill is going up, your water is being poisoned, your air is polluted, and if you live near a data center you just get used to the non-stop humming of the place. But look on the bright side: AI is making a tiny handful of billionaires even richer so Google can get basic math wrong.
Good news about the cutting-edge AI tools from the $3-trillion-dollar company.
September 2, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Your power bill is going up, your water is being poisoned, your air is polluted, and if you live near a data center you just get used to the non-stop humming of the place. But look on the bright side: AI is making a tiny handful of billionaires even richer so Google can get basic math wrong.