Seven in ten Americans oppose constructing data centers for AI in their local area, according to a Gallup poll, as data centers become a pivotal election issue. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has …
President Trump said communities that reject data centers are "making a mistake," arguing the facilities create jobs and money and are not taking power from the grid, in an interview with Michael Cohe…
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told ABC's Jonathan Karl that data center companies "dug their own grave" and deserve the backlash they face after failing to win community support, marking a sharp reversal fro…
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) aligned with former President Donald Trump's push for rapid AI development, warning that U.S. regulatory hesitation benefits China, which he called a 'China First' agenda…
Opposition to new local AI data centers reached 71% in a March Gallup survey and 61% in a June-July Annenberg survey, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents opposed, reshaping 2026…
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 on August 18, making the state's GRID standards legally binding on data-centre developers, pulling AI data-centre proposals out of the…
At least 75 AI data center projects worth roughly $130 billion were blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, the largest single-quarter total recorded by Data Center Watch, as local opposition…
Investor Chamath Palihapitiya warned in an August 20 X post that political backlash against AI data centers could cost the US 200 to 300 basis points of annual GDP if disputes continue, citing early r…
Fox News' 'Fox & Friends' aired a segment on August 19, 2026, portraying opposition to AI data centers as a 'far left' culture war issue, echoing a private memo from the National Republican Senatorial…
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya warned that growing backlash against data centers is a 'powder keg' that could unwind 200-300 basis points of annual GDP if it metastasizes, and criticized 'the…
Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas finds that the rapid growth of AI data centers has already pushed average wholesale electricity prices 2% to 6% higher nationwide, and could raise gene…
President Donald Trump said data centers 'could use a little public relations help' amid growing backlash, while reaffirming his support for the AI industry and the facilities it requires. Trump's rem…
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on August 18 requiring data center developers to secure local approval and make legally binding commitments to the state's GRID requirement…
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 on Tuesday, requiring AI data centers with peak electricity demand over 25 megawatts to meet state requirements on environmental prote…
Oracle Corp. has launched an aggressive public relations campaign to win support for its 2.45 gigawatt Project Jupiter data center in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, part of its $300 billion computing de…
Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley have turned Wisconsin's governor's race into a fight over data centers, with Tiffany branding Crowley 'Data Center David' and Crowley accusing Tiffany…
Public opposition to U.S. data centers has become the most immediate threat to the AI boom, according to Republican officials and AI CEOs who privately admit they lack a compelling message to counter …
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed an executive order on Tuesday implementing his Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) requirements, which could limit AI data center develop…
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 on Tuesday, imposing new restrictions on large AI data centers with peak electricity demand above 25 megawatts, including removal from the…
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced an executive order on Tuesday in Harrisburg that removes data centers from fast-track permitting and gives local communities an effective veto over data center…