The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived
7 days ago
- #community-opposition
- #data-centers
- #elections
- Peter Hubbard, a Democratic candidate, won a surprising victory in Georgia's Public Service Commission election, marking the first Democratic statewide win in nearly two decades.
- Residents' top concerns during Hubbard's campaign were affordability and the impact of data centers on water, electricity, and land use, with complaints about tax breaks for these facilities.
- Georgia has become a hotspot for data center development, but opposition is growing, with bipartisan resistance emerging in red states like Georgia and Indiana.
- A report by Data Center Watch highlights a sharp increase in community opposition to data centers, with $98 billion in projects blocked or delayed from March to June 2025.
- Local pushback, including petitions and legal challenges, has led to moratoriums and halted projects, such as a $17 billion development in Atlanta suburbs.
- Political candidates in Virginia, including governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, have campaigned on making data centers pay for their power usage, reflecting broader national concerns.
- Virginia state delegate Josh Thomas successfully pushed for data center reforms, citing rising utility bills and community resistance, with bipartisan support growing.
- National Republican figures like Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have also voiced opposition to data center expansion.
- Despite opposition, the data center industry continues to grow, with tech giants like Meta investing heavily in AI infrastructure, including data centers.
- Community wins against data centers may be temporary, as seen in the Prince William Digital Gateway case, where a stay allowed construction to resume.