# County With 37 Data Centers Asks Schools to 'Conserve Electricity'

> The irony writes itself, a county that aggressively courted data centers for tax revenue is now telling its own teachers to turn off the lights because those same data centers pushed electricity rates up 25 percent. This is what the AI buildout looks like at ground level, not abstract grid statistics but a literal email asking public school staff to close blinds. Expect more of these stories as other data center heavy counties hit the same math.

_Section: [Daily AI Updates](https://www.wortins.com/daily-ai) · Source: 404 Media · Published Tuesday, July 7, 2026_

## Wortins' read

The irony writes itself, a county that aggressively courted data centers for tax revenue is now telling its own teachers to turn off the lights because those same data centers pushed electricity rates up 25 percent. This is what the AI buildout looks like at ground level, not abstract grid statistics but a literal email asking public school staff to close blinds. Expect more of these stories as other data center heavy counties hit the same math.

## Source

[Read the full story at 404 Media](https://www.404media.co/henrico-virginia-datacenter-energy-cost-email/)

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_Curated and written by [Wortins](https://www.wortins.com) — The daily AI briefing. Every story links to its original source; the "Wortins read" on each is our own original analysis. [About Wortins & our editorial approach](https://www.wortins.com/about)._