- Data center backlash is becoming an election issue that has political operatives worried
- AI data center growth is colliding with local power, permitting and public sentiment concerns
- Still, the hyperscale data center pipeline remains strong
Data centers are so unpopular they could end up swinging elections, the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned in a memo obtained by Axios.
The memo is focused on the Ohio Senate race between Republican candidate Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown. The latter, it notes, has made opposition to data centers a cornerstone of his campaign – and that message is resonating with voters.
“This has become a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle,” the memo warns. “If [Husted] loses and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice — and they will not go near the next one.”
The message? Fix public perception, or else. But that may be easier said than done.
Ohio is far from the only state where the changing tide has become apparent. A number of states have already published new requirements for future data center developments, Pennsylvania among them.
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order directing the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to “evaluate permit applications from proposed data centers only if developers have made a legally binding commitment to meet the Governor’s GRID Requirements and have received local approval.”
Shapiro’s move in Pennsylvania is notable given that just over a year ago, President Donald Trump visited the state to tout $90+ billion worth of AI infrastructure investments there. Shapiro is up for reelection in the current cycle, squaring up against Republican Stacy Garrity.
In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker, who is also up for reelection, has done a similar about-face on data center incentives as he battles Republican Darren Bailey to retain his position. Arizona’s Katie Hobbs, another incumbent, did the same in January.
Gina Hinojosa who is running against Greg Abbott for Governor of Texas, has also made opposition to data centers a cornerstone of her campaign.
Pensylvania, Illinois, Texas and Arizona have all emerged as growing data center hubs over the past year.
Data centers: Still going strong
The battle over public perception comes as data center development continues apace in the U.S. and abroad.
Newly released data from Synergy Research Group shows there are 915 facilities in the hyperscale data center pipeline. The report noted 16 out of the top 20 markets are in the U.S. Northern Virginia continues to lead in terms of worldwide capacity, though the tide appears to be turning even there.
“Markets like Dublin, Amsterdam and Singapore have dropped down the rankings over the last two years due to local constraints, and even Northern Virginia is not featuring as highly in new plans as it once did,” Synergy’s Chief Analyst John Dinsdale said. In contrast, Texas has seen capacity grow by 71% year on year, nearly doubling the worldwide average growth rate of 36%
“Other high-growth markets include Indiana, Tennessee and South Virginia in the US, Shanghai, China, Johor, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia,” Dinsdale noted.
Read more about data center sentiment here:
West Virginia joins cadre of states enacting data center development plans
About 700 data centers are being built in U.S. as public outcry increases
Oracle does damage control after New Mexico data center backlash