OpenAI Pledges to Cover Power Costs After Voters Reject Data Centers

Two days after voters in roughly 28 localities passed measures opposing data centers, OpenAI pledged to cover its own power and grid costs and post financial guarantees for its projects. The company's new National Community Compact aims to protect utility customers from costs if projects are delayed or canceled. Most ballot measures were limits, not bans, driven by concerns over rising electricity prices, with Ohio seeing the most significant opposition. The industry is shifting from seeking tax breaks to offering community benefits, such as Microsoft's plan to pay full property taxes and provide AI training. This repricing reflects a new social license requirement, as companies now must offer concessions to gain local approval for their buildouts.