Data centre backlash reshapes U.S. midterm politics

A senior policy adviser to a long-time Democratic senator has begun holding regular meetings with staff to monitor the spread of data centres and is drafting new legislation to limit their rapid expansion. The adviser said the shift in focus was driven by a growing wave of public backlash that has forced politicians across the country to take a stand.

Data centres are large facilities that house rows of computer chips and power equipment. They have become the physical embodiment of the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, and many residents fear their size, noise, and use of energy and water. In one Indiana neighbourhood, a new Amazon data centre will occupy more than a square mile, consist of 26 buildings, and contain 782 diesel-powered generators. A joint project in Ohio, involving OpenAI, Nvidia, SB Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy, will cover roughly six square miles, the same size as most U.S. townships.

There are about 3,000 data centres operating in the United States today, and a Pew Research Center report suggests that number could double in the next few years. Because the construction of these facilities is governed by local rules and permits, federal lawmakers have limited influence over the process. Nevertheless, the speed and scale of approvals have sparked a backlash that is now a political issue for both parties.

President Donald Trump has dismissed the opposition as a “sick conspiracy” and criticised towns that resist new facilities. Democratic politicians, meanwhile, are using the controversy to appeal to voters who are unhappy with the pace of AI development. Chloe Autio, an AI policy adviser, noted that “whoever articulates a clear position and sticks to it, in either party, really stands to benefit.” Residents in Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Oregon have organised local campaigns against data centre construction, citing concerns about size, construction, noise, and resource use. Data Center Watch,