AI Data Centers Face Political Backlash After Midterm Elections; What It Means for Washington
The 2026 midterm elections produced strong voter support for tighter restrictions and oversight of data center development nationwide. In Grant County, Washington, Keel Infrastructure is building an 18-megawatt computing campus in Moses Lake, while Grant County Public Utility District is considering higher electricity rates for high-density computing customers and OpenAI has proposed commitments addressing energy, water and infrastructure costs.
The article examines growing political resistance to data center expansion after the 2026 midterm elections, citing voter support for restrictions in communities across the country and gubernatorial candidates who campaigned for tighter oversight. The results reflect concerns about electricity costs, water use, infrastructure investment and whether technology companies provide sufficient economic benefits to host communities.
In Central Washington, the debate has direct implications for Moses Lake and Quincy. Keel Infrastructure said it obtained permits and began construction in September on an 18-megawatt high-performance computing campus in Moses Lake, with the facility expected to begin generating revenue in 2027. Grant County Public Utility District is considering new rate classes that would raise charges for high-density computing customers by 12% to 24% in 2027, with a public hearing scheduled for November 10 and a vote expected December 15. OpenAI separately announced a policy blueprint pledging that future company-owned campuses would cover their electricity and infrastructure costs and disclose energy and water use.