January 14, 2026 | Mark Luis Foster

We’ve read myriad examples of data centers that are either being built in, or being planned for, communities across the country, including here in Minnesota, which are located dangerously close to HOA properties. Needless to say, smaller communities (like nearby Farmington, MN) and affected HOAs are not too happy when such announcements are made.

I’m no data center expert, but given the large footprint of those facilities, the powers that be likely look for wide open spaces with decent connecting roads and water sources, and burgeoning HOAs have beaten them to the punch. Hence, when the DC’s come calling, they are not a welcome neighbor.

Now comes word that data centers need to pay their own way. From the News Source called Morning Brew:

Microsoft’s big announcement yesterday had nothing to do with new products, software, or a ballooning market cap. Instead, it promised to pick up the bill.

So that’s a start. Read on:

The tech company said yesterday that it would pay more when it builds a new data center in a city to ensure that elevated electricity costs aren’t passed on to consumers. Rising energy prices and environmental concerns have united some communities on opposite ends of the political spectrum with a simple message to companies building massive AI data centers: Get out.

Turns out that big-boy-tech company Microsoft introduced a five-point plan used when a data center project is introduced, including a promise to pay higher energy costs and replenish the egregious use of water. According to the report, the company also promised to add to the local property tax base and not accept any tax reductions.

The company’s CEO recently stated that Microsoft wants to double its data centers in two years. That’s a tall order, given that a recent analysis shows 25 data centers were canceled following protests in 2025, well up from just 6 cancelations in 2024.

Then there’s this:

• Bloomberg found that communities near data centers saw electricity costs soar by nearly 267% last year compared to five years ago.
• The largest power-grid operator in the US, PJM, pitched rolling blackouts during extreme heatwaves or cold fronts in order to protect grid infrastructure that is close to being overwhelmed by data centers.

Electricity spikes of nearly 300%? Yikes.

Data centers are going to be an ever increasing footprint across the fruited plain given the push to make everything A.I. At least now, it sounds like they know they have to pay to play.