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The rapid proliferation of AI-focused data centers is triggering a nationwide conflict over energy consumption and infrastructure funding. As utility providers struggle to meet massive power demands, regulators and residents are questioning whether local communities are unfairly subsidizing the digital backbone of the AI revolution.
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, spearheaded by Nvidia’s high-performance GPUs, is creating an unprecedented surge in industrial silver demand. As next-generation data centers require superior conductivity and thermal management, silver is emerging as a critical, non-negotiable component in the AI hardware supply chain.
Duke Energy has requested a 15% rate increase for North Carolina customers, citing the massive surge in power demand from new data centers. The move highlights the growing tension between AI infrastructure expansion and consumer energy costs.