‘Sleeper issue’: Leaked GOP memo warns of data center backlash in Senate races
Opposition to data center development is emerging as a significant political issue in North Carolina, with a leaked Republican memo warning of potential voter backlash in U.S. Senate races. Both U.S. Senate candidates, Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley, have addressed the growing concerns over data centers' impact on communities and energy costs. Multiple North Carolina communities have enacted moratoriums, and a proposed data center project in Raleigh withdrew an annexation request due to public opposition.
A leaked National Republican Senatorial Committee memo, obtained by Axios, identifies data centers as a "sleeper issue" with potential for voter backlash in the upcoming election cycle, including North Carolina's U.S. Senate race. Both Republican candidate Michael Whatley and Democratic candidate Roy Cooper have weighed in on the topic.
Michael Whatley's campaign spokesperson DJ Griffin stated that Whatley believes data centers should not receive special subsidies or deals, advocating for them to cover all their energy and grid upgrade costs without burdening residential ratepayers. Conversely, Roy Cooper's campaign emphasized the need for local communities to have authority over new projects and for data centers to fully pay for their energy consumption without passing costs to consumers.
The political discourse reflects broader public sentiment, as an Elon University Poll indicates 53% of North Carolinians oppose data center development in their communities, an increase from 44% in March. Across North Carolina, numerous communities and counties have implemented temporary moratoriums on new data centers, citing concerns about electricity and water demand, noise, and land use. Notably, a developer in Raleigh recently withdrew an annexation request for a proposed data center due to intense public opposition, though the developer plans to continue pursuing the project.
Residents remain divided, with some expressing worry about increased electricity bills, while others view data centers as necessary for technological progress, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence.