As 25 Investigates first reported in November, Massachusetts is on track to land its first hyperscale artificial intelligence data center, part of a broader push by lawmakers to attract big tech development through tax incentives. But as AI data centers expand, concerns are growing about rising utility costs, and whether residential ratepayers could end up footing the bill.

U.S. Senator Ed Markey says safeguards are needed now. “So, we have to make sure that any increase in electricity rates is not passed on to residential consumers. And we have to make sure the pollution isn’t injected into residential neighborhoods,” Markey told Boston 25’s Kerry Kavanaugh.

“Across our nation, electricity rate payers are already seeing skyrocketing bills due to AI data centers being put in their neighborhoods.”

Markey says the massive facilities drive up energy demand, which in turn raises costs for ratepayers.