‘The most bipartisan issue since beer’: Opposition to data centers.

Across the United States, opposition to data center development is growing rapidly and has become a deeply bipartisan issue, according to a recent article. In places like Lyon Township, a small town in southeast Michigan, residents are filling town meetings to voice concerns over proposed hyperscale data centers. Speakers at a recent meeting cited the immense size of projects, potential traffic increases, environmental impacts on endangered species like bats, and noise pollution as key worries. This sentiment is reflected statewide in Michigan, where at least 50 towns have reportedly passed measures to pause data center development. Nationally, Maine recently passed a moratorium on data centers, though it was later vetoed by the governor, and similar measures have been introduced in over a dozen states and many municipalities. Polls in Virginia and Wisconsin indicate a sharp turn in public opinion, with around 70% of Wisconsinites now believing data center costs outweigh their benefits, transcending typical partisan divides. The opposition stems from the sudden appearance of vast, multi-billion-dollar projects, often initiated through quiet rezoning requests with obscure project names like 'Project Flex.' Residents feel outmatched by wealthy companies and note a lack of transparency and answers from local officials. Despite the potential for jobs and tax revenue, concerns over higher electricity prices, decreased home values, and environmental damage are galvanizing citizens of all political stripes to organize, fundraise for lawyers, and advocate for stricter regulations. Figures like Ryan Wagner, a conservative, and Seth Bernard, a left-leaning environmental activist, have found common ground in fighting data center projects in northern Michigan's Kalkaska, illustrating the issue's capacity to realign local politics. This has particular significance in Michigan, where Governor Gretchen Whitmer has supported tax incentives for data centers, potentially exposing state Democrats to political backlash.