Basically data center operators say they're going to build in a location and use lots of energy for years to come, but when asked to sign a contract to commit to pay for that, they get evasive.

This is because they'd like to hedge their bets and get someone else to pay for their grid upgrades and reserve the right to walk away from the deal and not pay for them if the AI bubble pops or they find some other sucker municipality to subsidize their grid access.