Growing technology battles

A new "Data Center Opposition Report," compiled by the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development, Evitable, and Together Against AI, reveals an unprecedented surge in grassroots opposition to hyperscale AI data centers throughout the United States. The report indicates that over 360,000 Americans across 37 states have mobilized to resist these developments, with membership in opposition groups quadrupling in just four months since December 2025, and more than one new group forming daily. Oklahomans are specifically noted as participants in this national movement. The primary concerns fueling this widespread resistance include the enormous scale and environmental impact of proposed AI data centers. Matthew Shaw, one of the report's authors, highlighted that some planned facilities could consume over 1 gigawatt of electricity, comparable to the power needs of an entire city like Seattle. Residents are voicing alarms about increased power bills, extensive water usage, noise pollution, and general environmental impacts. Further aggravating community frustration are common practices such as the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) during land acquisition and rezoning processes. Shaw stated that these secret deals, often accompanied by significant tax cuts for developers, lead to giant data centers being placed near residential areas without public consent. David Krueger, CEO of Evitable, criticized the rushed approval of data center plans, asserting that they often proceed "without citizens’ consent." Opposition groups nationwide are actively fundraising, collectively raising approximately $1.4 million, with a median goal of $8,000 per campaign to support their efforts. The report, accessible at datacenteropposition.com, promises monthly updates on the movement's progress.