How anti-data center activists are taking on Big Tech — and winning

Across the United States, a significant and rapidly intensifying movement of anti-data center activists is challenging the expansion of Big Tech's infrastructure. This backlash, often driven by concerns over property values, water scarcity, and soaring electricity costs, has resulted in dozens of rejections and restrictions on proposed data center projects, including the withdrawal of Compass Datacenters' 800-acre project in Prince William County, Virginia, due to intense local pushback. The opposition is described as a broad cultural phenomenon, cutting across political and demographic lines, fueled by distrust of tech oligarchs and fears regarding AI's impact on jobs. A notable recent instance occurred in Box Elder County, Utah, where hundreds of residents gathered at a county commission hearing to oppose the Stratos data center project, spearheaded by Kevin O'Leary. Protesters chanted slogans like 'No data center' and 'We want water,' highlighting worries about the project's potential to consume immense amounts of electricity—more than twice the current usage of the entire state. Despite the overwhelming opposition and disruptions during the meeting, the Box Elder County Commission ultimately approved the Stratos deal by a unanimous vote. However, the article suggests that even with approval, the project's future remains uncertain given the intense controversy, lack of current tenants, and fierce competition in the data center industry. Claims by conservative groups that the anti-data center movement is foreign-funded were dismissed as bogus, with the author emphasizing the genuine local anger. The growing number of project rejections and withdrawals indicates that activists are achieving considerable success in slowing down or stopping data center developments.