In the Season Two premiere of Gaslit: The Power of Story, Tommy J. Hausman speaks with Citizens Action Coalition executive director Kerwin Olson about Indiana’s rapid expansion of AI data centers and what it could mean for Southern Indiana.

They examine Project Raider, an unidentified proposed 600-megawatt load in CenterPoint territory, and ask whether the grid can supply projects of this scale without shifting infrastructure, energy, and stranded-asset costs onto existing customers. The conversation explores utility regulation, water and pollution, aging coal plants, closed-door development agreements, voluntary consumer protections, and the promises of jobs and economic growth.

At the center of the episode is a fundamental question: Before communities surrender land, water, electricity, tax revenue, and public money, what must residents be allowed to know—and what power do they still have to say no?

Season Two of Gaslit: The Power of Story investigates what Southern Indiana is being asked to sacrifice for the rapid expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence. Using media literacy, civics literacy, critical thinking, and a clear definition of harm, we will separate verified facts from corporate promises while examining electricity, water, infrastructure costs, jobs, automation, surveillance, and public accountability. At every step, we will ask: Who benefits, who decides, who assumes the risk—and what power does the public still have to prevent harm?

Gaslit: The Power of Story — Season 1, Episode 10

In this episode of Gaslit, we speak with organizers from Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy, a community-driven group that formed after residents across southern Indiana began experiencing sudden, extreme increases in their utility bills.

This conversation traces how a grassroots Facebook group became a source of shared education, mutual aid, and civic engagement—helping thousands of residents understand how utility pricing works, why bills have risen so dramatically, and where accountability actually lies.

We discuss:

• How residents first realized something was wrong when bills doubled with no change in usage
• The hidden labor required to access utility assistance
• Why shutoffs create cascading harm for families, seniors, and children
• The role of legislation, regulation, and monopoly structure in rising costs
• Why education and storytelling have become survival tools
• The growing concern over data centers, infrastructure expansion, and long-term affordability
• Why no one should ever lose power in silence

This episode centers lived experience, civic literacy, and the reality that electricity is not a luxury—it is a basic necessity.

Resources & Links

• Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy resources and updates:https://linktr.ee/daace

If you or someone you know is struggling with utility bills, assistance resources are discussed in the episode and may also be found through local community action programs and the United Way 2-1-1 system.