Conflict: Data centers now consume 4% of U.S. electricity and are projected to reach 12% by 2028. This Quarterfinals matchup pits the Economist's market-based solutions against the Contrarian's challenge of every orthodoxy.
Forced tradeoff: Either permit data centers to build where power is cheap — or restrict them and accept slower AI development.
Decision surface: Should regulators impose data center energy caps? Should utilities prioritize residential customers?
