The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived

Data center development in the United States is facing growing opposition, with communities across the country, including in Republican-led states, pushing back against these projects. Democratic candidates like Peter Hubbard in Georgia and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia have campaigned on addressing concerns around data centers' impact on water, electricity, and taxes. Data Center Watch, a project by AI security company 10a Labs, reports that opposition has blocked or delayed $98 billion in data center projects from March to June 2025 alone. Legislators like Josh Thomas in Virginia are working to reform data center policies, with bipartisan support, as constituents become more cost-conscious about the impact on their energy bills. While the industry argues that data centers provide economic benefits, the public sentiment appears to be shifting, posing a challenge to the rapid expansion of data center development.