SO · News · 20260818N

Data Center Regulatory Risk

SOUTHERN CO · 2026-08-18 · Importance 31 · Surprise 42

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy called for an 18-month moratorium on new large data centers in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The proposed pause is intended to establish transparent rules addressing environmental, economic, and societal effects before additional facilities are approved. The advocacy group cited potential impacts on customer power bills, fossil-fuel infrastructure, water consumption, and noise pollution. If adopted, such restrictions could delay or alter Southern Company’s planned large-load growth and related generation investment.