Trump policies, inflammatory tweets dominate Barrett, Lawrence debate
Opposition to data centers and artificial intelligence was discussed during a congressional debate in East Lansing between Republican Rep. Tom Barrett and Democratic challenger Will Lawrence. Lawrence criticized leaving data center siting decisions to local communities, while Barrett argued residents should retain final authority over whether projects are built.
Data center opposition and AI policy were among the issues debated Oct. 6 in East Lansing by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett and Democratic challenger Will Lawrence in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District race. Lawrence said local governments often lack the resources to oppose companies seeking to build data centers and described himself as a national leader in opposing data centers and advocating for safer AI development.
Barrett defended local control, saying residents should have the ultimate say over data center projects in their communities. He also linked Lawrence’s support for the Green New Deal to changes that weakened local control over siting decisions for large-scale renewable energy projects and data centers. The article does not identify a specific data center project or company involved in the debate.