Data Center Opposition Emerges as Issue in 2026 Midterm Elections
The report examines growing opposition to data center development across the United States, including a rejected one-year development pause in Memphis and a proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio that would block new facilities using more than 25 megawatts. It also highlights a Google project in Hermantown, Minnesota, rising electricity demand, water and environmental concerns, and proposed state and federal moratoriums.
Data centers have become a major political issue as communities debate their effects on electricity costs, water supplies, noise, land use and tax incentives. The Memphis City Council rejected a proposal for a one-year pause on new data center development, while Hermantown, Minnesota, moved closer to developing a Google data center after discussions about mitigation and community concerns.
In Ohio, residents are seeking more than 400,000 signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit new data centers using more than 25 megawatts of power. Dublin resident Amy Swank supports the effort, arguing that large facilities can consume as much energy as tens of thousands of homes and contribute to higher utility bills, while supporters say data centers create jobs and tax revenue.
The report also covers the broader political response, including proposals from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a federal AI data center moratorium and a Maine legislative measure that would pause approvals for facilities requiring more than 20 megawatts until October 2027. The segment notes that President Donald Trump has promoted data center expansion as a national priority, underscoring the conflict between economic development and local opposition.