Over the last half decade, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/?embedded-checkout=true"target="_blank" >wholesale electricity prices have increased 267%</a> in places close to data centers. That’s contributed to a backlash against new ones.  But some experts believe data centers are a scapegoat for long-term issues with an aging U.S. grid. Today on the show, we ask who is responsible for rising electricity prices and whether the U.S. can handle a new era of grid growth.  Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: <a href="https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour"target="_blank" >planetmoneybook.com/#tour</a> Related episodes: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5696566/all-these-data-centers-are-gonna-fry-my-electric-bill-right"target="_blank" >All these data centers are gonna fry my electric bill … right?</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649814/ai-data-center-electricity-bill"target="_blank" >What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill</a>  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez"target="_blank" >Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/"target="_blank" >Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney"target="_blank" >TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/"target="_blank" >Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney"target="_blank" >Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money"target="_blank" >Newsletter</a>.   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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