"In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators."
"MCCALLA, Ala. — Mary Rosenboom is fed up.
Like 1.5 million other Alabamians, Rosenboom is forced to pay ever-increasing electricity prices set by Alabama Power and approved by the state’s Public Service Commission. Each month, Rosenboom forks over hundreds of dollars to the utility—and a massive hyperscale data center proposed near her home, she fears, will make the situation even worse.
Her electricity costs are already a huge financial burden. Rosenboom, who works as a sales professional, said she chooses not to run her air conditioner during much of the day to prevent an untenable power bill. Even that isn’t enough. Often, Rosenboom said she must turn to high-interest credit cards to keep the lights on.
“I’m robbing Peter to pay Paul,” she told Inside Climate News. “It makes me sick.”
Rosenboom’s plight isn’t unique."
