AI Data Centers Are Building a New Political Coalition

In Saline Township, Michigan, residents are forming an unlikely political coalition to oppose the state’s first hyperscale A.I. data center, crossing traditional partisan divides. The project has united local conservatives and liberals who share concerns about the facility’s environmental impact and strain on community resources. This emerging opposition signals a new political force driven by the rapid expansion of A.I. infrastructure across the United States.

new video loaded: How A.I. Data Centers Are Building a New Political Coalition How A.I. Data Centers Are Building a New Political Coalition Sabrina Tavernise, a national writer-at-large, traveled to Saline Township, Mich., where the state’s first hyperscale A.I. data center is under construction. Residents are banding together to oppose the center, crossing political lines in surprising new ways.By Sabrina Tavernise, Mimi Dwyer, Melanie Bencosme, June Kim, Orlando de Guzman and Jon Miller May 1, 2026 Watch Today’s Videos Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT after-bottom