It’s hard to imagine anything uniting Americans today, but one thing is clear: Americans hate data centers. A Reuters poll found that a majority opposes the construction of data centers and only 14% would be okay with a center built near them.
Even lawmakers are pushing back against the expansion of center construction and many have either implemented or are considering establishing moratoriums. New York governor Kathy Hochul led the way by enacting a moratorium on new hyperscale data center projects. Other states have adopted similar measures; Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro mandated local community authorization as a prerequisite for state building permits.
It’s not only Democratic officials who are cracking down. Texas governor Greg Abbott paused approvals for new data center construction and Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers promised to support a one-year moratorium, in a strange alignment with his opponent Abdul El-Sayed who also called for a pause until national standards are established.
This 180-degree turn on the promise of a new era comes not even a year later. Elected officials from both parties promised incentives, tax breaks, infrastructure, and job opportunities for everyone involved in the construction of these tech warehouses. But now, voters’ soured sentiment is raising alarm bells ahead of the midterm election, which is increasingly turning into a referendum on Americans’ economic anxieties. In a rapidly unstable economy that’s overwhelmed by rising costs and overrun with promises of artificial intelligence (AI) everywhere, being labelled as a data center cheerleader is no longer a winning message with voters.
Policy Perspectives
The growing fervent pushback against data centers isn’t really surprising and there are a number of reasons why they aren’t gaining the traction that Big Tech wants. The lack of regulatory standards, their impact on the environment, even the fact that it houses AI, which remains a hotly contested debate, all have contributed to the sentiment found in that Reuters poll.
Data Center Water Use Isn’t the Only Problem
Data centers and AI often get tangled up with one another; however, the centers don’t just house AI computer chips, but also a plethora of other services including servers, supporting systems, security, and networking equipment. And it’s the hyperscale centers, the ones the size of hundreds of football fields, that are getting the most attention.
Virginia, Texas, and California host the largest number of facilities in the world, functioning as national hubs for cloud computing and AI infrastructure. But as they rapidly increase in number across the US, their undeniable impact does as well.
Because data centers produce substantial heat, keeping them cool demands massive amounts of both water and electricity. Does it require an inordinate amount of water usage compared to other industries? Not necessarily. Golf courses, coffee consumption, agriculture, even companies like Nestle, consume more water than data centers (so far). However, it doesn’t mean its water usage should be ignored. Many of the areas where these centers are being constructed, such as Nevada or Arizona, don’t have a stable water supply nearby and are already dealing with water-related issues. Additionally, local well water supplies have reportedly become unfit for consumption, with residents pointing to damaged septic systems, compromised wells, and water sources contaminated by sediment and mud.
An equally pressing concern is overall electricity consumption, which inevitably raises the question on how data centers vie with local communities for water and electricity resources. Driven mostly by AI’s expansion and cloud computing, data centers are putting a huge strain on power grids across the globe. Its electricity consumption tends to spike, adding pressure to local and national transmission systems and in countries like the US and UK, the demand for gigawatts of power is outpacing the speed at which grid infrastructure can be upgraded. With the worrying increase in the consequences of unchecked climate change, many industries are competing for electricity and when demand is at a peak, such as during heat waves or winter storms, supply has to be met; otherwise, people can die.
This in turn leads to a crucial question: who is paying for this? Residents in places where centers have been built have been shocked to see soaring electricity bills because the cost of running these centers is being subsidized by them. They have not, however, raised water bills, although some experts have warned that increasing demand and new infrastructure may push consumer prices up in the future. But higher utility bills and reliability concerns for communities won’t alleviate fears over AI and data center expansion, especially during a time where the cost of living is out of control.
Data centers are also being used to reinforce existing inequities. They’re mostly concentrated in lower-income or economically vulnerable areas for a few reasons. These areas tend to have lower property and land costs, provide aggressive tax breaks and subsidies designed to attract infrastructure projects in the hopes of driving economic growth, and have the space needed to house these centers. As a result, these communities, already facing unequal treatment, discriminatory practices and policy, and a lack of affordable resources are forced to contend with yet another disadvantage that largely harms, instead of helps, them.
This Tech Revolution May Have No Future
Take all these concerns and add them to the growing list of fears that Americans have and you get very uncertain midterm election results. Politicians are struggling to gauge shifting public sentiment and understand what genuinely excites or alienates voters. Trump, however, remains a fan, defending the expansion during a bizarre interview with his former attorney, Michael Cohen, and remarking that “Communities that don’t take a data center, they’re making a mistake.”
The ambiguity surrounding data centers certainly doesn’t appeal to voters and the fear of them appearing in their communities is strong. OpenAI’s vice president for global policy Ann O’Leary summed up what Americans are thinking: “If you think about the amazing work we’re trying to do with AI … it’s all incredible and it’s inspiring…[B]ut when you have a data center in your backyard, it’s not inspiring you.” Politicians should take note for November, because data centers will certainly be at the polls and it may cost them their race.
On Our Radar
Rep. Jared Moskowitz Named Ranking Member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee
One of the strongest pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, has in the past argued against conditioning aid to Israel and protecting Palestinian civilians as well as voted for a 2023 Republican aid package to Israel. Critics believe that the Congressman’s selection to the House Foreign Affairs Committee solidifies the Democratic party’s leadership’s continued commitment to Israel. He has received $833,288 in campaign contributions from AIPAC throughout his career.
Limited Blow to Voting Rights
The Supreme Court lifted a lower court’s decision to block a Trump administration rule designed to restrict voting by mail, meaning that the administration can move forward with their plans to restrict mail-in voting. In March, Trump signed an executive order directing the Postal Service to determine which voters can receive mail-in ballots and directed Homeland Security to build a database of citizens who are eligible to vote. However, the SCOTUS ruling does not apply to the lawfulness of the executive order; rather, it determined that states had sued too early. So far, this decision paused one of two injunctions against Trump’s executive order. The second injunction remains in place, blocking the executive order from going into effect, for now.
The Battle to Hold Social Media Accountable
Meta settled a landmark lawsuit brought by several states on behalf of teen users of Instagram and Facebook, agreeing to pay up to $17 billion in penalties to settle. The lawsuit argued that Meta’s products endangered kids’ mental health, making this a fairly big win for child internet safety. However, advocacy groups have argued that the lawsuit is not enough and Congress should still introduce legislation that will regulate online platforms for children and teens.
Kennedy Center Is Under Threat, Again
Trump is threatening to demolish the historic performing arts center if a federal judge doesn’t rule in favor of closing the building for two years for a $250 million renovation and adding the President’s name. His idiotic tantrum has been denounced by lawmakers, who have pointed out that the center was designated as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy and cannot be renamed without congressional approval. The heinous attempts to deface historic buildings is just one of many atrocious Trump projects, which includes the now-wrecked reflecting pool, the tacky 250-foot victory arch, and the unrefined ballroom.