‘A perfect, wild storm’: widely loathed datacenters see little US political opposition

Despite widespread opposition to datacenter construction in the US, including rare bipartisan coalitions, political action to regulate them remains limited. In Michigan, a bill to repeal datacenter tax credits faces an uphill battle despite significant public disapproval of new centers. This lack of political will stems from a powerful alliance of big tech, the fossil fuel industry, utility companies, and the AFL-CIO, who benefit from datacenter development and lobby for their expansion. National political leaders also seek financial support from the tech sector, and some view datacenter construction as vital for AI development and national security. Grassroots opposition is driven by concerns about increased energy costs, water depletion, environmental pollution, and the limited job creation associated with these facilities.

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