Backlash against data centres is pushing politicians in the US to act, with both parties taking up the issue as midterm campaigns gather pace. The row is now shaping state-level rules, local protests and election messaging.
01Summary
- 01There are about 3,000 data centres operating in the US, and a Pew Research Center report says that number could potentially double in the next few years.
- 02Community groups organising against data centres more than doubled in the first few months of this year to 833, according to Data Center Watch.
- 03Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs imposed a three-year pause in July on new tax breaks for data-centre projects.
- 04Ohio Republican Senator John Husted has softened his support, saying data centres should be left to local citizens and elected officials.
- 05A Brookings Institution study found that a new data centre creates between 100 and 200 local jobs and has essentially no impact on local wages.
02Why it matters
The backlash is now affecting election strategy, with candidates in several states forced to take a stance. It could also influence where new facilities are approved and how quickly data-centre projects move ahead.
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