RICHMOND, Va.—At an evening election rally focused on clean energy last month, a 26-year-old who’s studied environmental issues said his skyrocketing electric bills as a voting motivation are exceeded only by his dislike of President Donald Trump.

He and his partner recently moved from an apartment building in Richmond where their rent—which included utilities—increased by $800 a month. In a state with more energy-sucking data centers than any place on earth, he thought surging energy demand might have had something to do with the rent hike.

“I’ve never had it jump that high before,” said the angry voter, who said his first name was Jade and wouldn’t give his last name. Even at their new home, he said, “we stopped using our dryer.”

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