Mike Johnson Calls Data Center Opposition a "Chinese Psyop"

Speaker Mike Johnson calls data center opposition a "Chinese psyop" as Pennsylvania lawmakers push back with a bill forcing developers to bring their own power — while a Wisconsin poll shows 74% of residents say costs outweigh benefits. Pennsylvania's cost-shifting bill: The House Energy Committee advanced a bill requiring data center developers to prove they've applied for electrical service and paid associated fees before seeking zoning approval — aimed at separating serious projects from speculative ones overwhelming municipalities. Republican Rep. Craig Williams says the bill would force data centers (the "cost causers") to bring their own baseload power and cover grid connection costs, citing Ohio, Loudoun County, VA, and Maryland all buying Pennsylvania energy as their own data center demand outpaces supply. Virginia pushback: Northern Virginia residents raised concerns at a State Corporation Commission hearing over Dominion Energy's proposed 36.5-mile transmission line expansion tied to data center demand, citing costs and private property impacts. The commission adjourned without a decision; it reconvenes Nov. 16. Wisconsin poll: A Marquette poll found data centers were the least desirable of five development options tested, with 74% of respondents saying costs outweigh benefits (down slightly from 78% the prior month) and 54% saying state incentives let companies avoid paying their fair share. Speaker Johnson's pushback: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) dismissed data center opposition as a "Chinese psyop" in a Fox Business interview, saying rates won't rise if developers partner properly with communities, calling data centers a "win-win-win" for jobs and investment. His comments came just before the Senate failed to advance (57-43) the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill passed nearly unanimously by the House to shield communities from data-center-driven energy cost increases; only four Senate Democrats supported it. Louisiana's upside: West Feliciana Parish could receive tens of millions annually from a Hut 8 data center project, potentially funding $30M in school improvements. In Richland Parish, sales tax collections tied to a Meta data center construction site surged up to 260%, pushing one certified teacher's annual distribution from roughly $10,000 to over $50,000. Where do you land — do data center benefits outweigh the concerns, or is Speaker Johnson wrong to call opposition a "psyop"? Leave your thoughts in the comments. #DataCenters #Pennsylvania #MikeJohnson #EnergyPolicy #CenterSquare #thestatesman Credit: Photo: Office of Speaker Mike Johnson / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain