Resident urges transparency on data‑center and cultivation energy use as summer demand nears

Rob Bullock, who identified himself as president of the 913 Alliance Community Alliance, told the council that area data centers and licensed marijuana cultivation facilities draw substantial power from the same grid as county residents and that the consumption levels are not transparent.

"The amount of power that those data service centers are consuming is enormous, and they're not being transparent," Bullock said during public comment, adding that only one of the local facilities had disclosed its consumption. He said the county has multiple data centers—"we have 6 in New Castle," including locations in Wilmington and Newark—and warned that planned marijuana cultivation facilities (which he said number about 61 licenses) could add to peak summertime demand and upward pressure on utility prices.

Bullock asked the council to watch for pending energy increases and to advocate for state-level disclosure requirements so the public and local officials can plan for grid impacts. Council members did not take formal action during the meeting but acknowledged the concern and suggested it may require state-level engagement or coordination with utilities.

The council did not present technical estimates of load, nor did utilities or state energy officials appear at the meeting. Bullock’s account reflects community concern about transparency and the potential for nonresidential large loads to affect local rates and grid reliability during high-demand periods.