Data centers also lost at the ballot box in the United States
Voters rejected 40 of 41 data center proposals put to referendum across 10 states, with Ohio accounting for half of the failed projects. The results reflect growing opposition over electricity costs, water consumption, tax incentives and transparency, while political leaders consider moratoriums and tighter regulations.
Voters rejected 40 of 41 data center proposals considered in local referendums across 10 states, according to Ballotpedia. Opposition was especially strong in Ohio, where 21 projects failed, as residents raised concerns about electricity bills, water use, public subsidies and opaque agreements between developers and local governments.
Ohio governor-elect Amy Acton supports a moratorium on new data center development until operators cover the full cost of public services and allow construction workers to unionize. The state is also home to a planned OpenAI data center campus backed by Nvidia and financial institutions. Analysts cited by EL PAÍS said local opposition, delays and stricter state-level rules could put a significant share of planned U.S. capacity at risk, although federal action may face resistance from President Donald Trump.