Panel: Data Centers Won’t Drive Up Energy Rates

Companies are legally required to ensure rates will not increase, but Google promised to pay for transmission upgrades and develop on-site power generation.

Eric Urbach

Feb 10, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of Steve DelBianco of NetChoice (center) at the State of The Net conference on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.

WASHINGTON, Feb 10, 2026 – Data centers will not drive up consumer energy prices according to a panel of tech industry representatives and think tank leaders at the State of the Net Conference on Monday.

While there are important steps to ensure data centers are a net benefit to their communities, companies like Google have committed to paying for grid improvements and power generation, according to Marsden Hanna, the head of energy and sustainability policy for Google.

“We don't get the upside of AI without the energy to power it,” Hanna said. “Its incredibly important that data centers pay for the incremental costs that is needed to build out the grid to serve their capacity and that’s something we’re committed to doing at Google. ”

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AI Data Center Marsden Hanna Tanya Das Steve DelBianco Lindsey Griffith

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