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Somehow you do not realize that my objection to data centers is not universal. What I object to is the massive, irrational overbuilding currently taking place and the inappropriate uses these facilities are being built for. Furthermore, a large portion of the current hardware generation being constructed will be near-obsolete almost as soon as it goes operational, leaving local communities stranded with the long-term grid costs.

Your claim that data centers pay their "proportional share" ignores the fundamental reality of utility ratemaking and capital expenditure:

1. Capital Buildout vs. Kilowatt-Hours
When a massive tech campus connects to the grid, utilities must build new high-voltage transmission lines, major substations, and dedicated peaker plants to handle that concentrated load. Under regulated utility rules, those multi-billion-dollar construction projects are added to the utility's capital "rate base." The utility then recovers those capital costs by raising baseline delivery charges across the entire customer base. Paying for raw electricity by the kilowatt-hour does not cover the long-term infrastructure expansion costs forced onto the local grid.

2. Discounted Industrial Tariffs
Utilities and state commissions regularly award large tech companies special "economic development" rate classes and discounted industrial tariffs to attract them to the area. As a result, these multi-trillion-dollar corporations frequently pay a significantly lower rate per kilowatt-hour than local homeowners, effectively shifting the cost of grid maintenance and capacity upgrades onto residential bills.

3. The False Choice on Technology
Claiming that expecting corporations to pay for their own infrastructure means "stopping the modern internet" is a ridiculous strawman. Nobody is arguing against basic digital infrastructure. The issue is whether tech firms should pay 100% of their own power generation and interconnection costs, or whether local families should be forced to subsidize an irrational speculative buildout through higher utility bills.

Demanding that massive corporations pay their own freight instead of relying on ratepayer-funded corporate welfare is not "Ludditism." It is basic fiscal responsibility.