Could data centers have a potential impact on the NC Senate race?

A leaked memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, obtained by Axios, warns that data centers could become a political liability, potentially impacting the North Carolina Senate race. The memo identifies data centers as a "sleeper issue" due to potential voter backlash, drawing parallels to the Ohio Senate race. Concerns include increased electricity bills for residents and the strain on existing infrastructure.

Evidence of this political problem is already visible across North Carolina, where dozens of communities and counties have either imposed or are considering data center moratoriums. In Raleigh, a developer recently withdrew a data center proposal just days before it was scheduled for a City Council vote, following significant public opposition. An Elon University poll also found that 53% of North Carolinians would not want a data center in their community.

Both U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, have addressed the issue. Cooper's campaign states he believes local communities must have the authority to decide on new projects and that data centers must cover all their energy costs without shifting burdens to consumers. Whatley's campaign, through spokesperson TJ Griffin, maintains that data centers must "pay their own way," ensuring families pay nothing and communities retain control, with big tech companies covering all energy and grid upgrade costs. Whatley has also questioned whether the opposition to data centers is genuinely organic.