What exactly am I supposed to do as a resident to change how a state government regulated utility operates? Please respond with something other than "Vote", which I already do.
I don't think I can claim credit because I'm sure I wasn't the only one, but it took 3 or 4 emails to a couple of legislator offices to get some policy changes. In my case it might've just been small enough (no news coverage, basically only a small number of people were aware of a regulatory memo), the first time or two they just kicked the can down the road deferring the implementation, until ultimately they reversed course. And my part was just laying out a very strong case for why the particular situation was unfair, how many people would be impacted (voters), etc. Nothing confrontational, just laying out the argument.
Re #2) I am a tahoe resident and these data centers aren't in my towns. They are far away. I'm not blaming the data centers for these problems, I just disagree with OP that "Tahoe residents kicked the can down the road". Many of us just go to work, take care of our families, and pay our electric bill. Just not sure how this is our fault.
If you want to blame anyone blame yourselves, and the elected officials in charge of Tahoe. You collectively had decades to fix the problem, but you collectively didn't. Now, you have to pay the piper. Sorry but that's the blunt fact.
Don't try to absolve yourself of responsibility when it is your responsibility to know what is going on around you and it's your responsibility to elect officials to make sure they have your best interests at heart. And if they don't and no one steps up, then it's up to you to step up. Otherwise, move, or bear the consequences. You, unfortunately, have to the bear the consequences because nothing when done when there was plenty of time to get something done.