Tech Giants' AI Data Center Push Faces Growing Local Backlash Across US

Deep News
5小时前

An industry coalition backed by tech giants such as Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), and Microsoft (MSFT) is set to unveil a series of commitments aimed at easing public opposition to AI data centers across the United States, an issue that has become a key flashpoint in the November midterm elections.

The AI Infrastructure Coalition (AIIC), which advocates for AI-friendly policies, will publicly announce the commitments on Wednesday. Coalition members pledge to bear the energy costs of their own data center operations, fund community institutions such as schools and hospitals, reduce water consumption, and prioritize hiring local workers.

The release of these "community principles" comes as polling shows growing public resentment toward data centers over the past 12 months, with a vast majority of both Democratic and Republican voters saying they do not want new data centers built near their homes. According to research, more than 1,000 communities across the country have attempted to introduce moratoriums or other restrictive policies targeting AI infrastructure this year.

Data from Data Center Watch, a research project under AI safety firm 10a Labs, shows that in the first half of 2026, such policies and various protests have affected more than 100 data center projects, with a combined scale of $200 billion.

As the issue gains weight in key Senate races, candidates from both parties are increasingly taking stances against data center expansion. Trump-endorsed Michigan candidate Mike Rogers has called for a one-year moratorium on data center construction, while Trump-backed Texas candidate Ken Paxton has vowed to eliminate subsidies for such projects.

At the same time, Trump has refused to heed calls from some members of his MAGA base to restrict data center construction, saying that those who oppose such projects want to make America "go backward and fall into poverty."

AIIC members include venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, Digital Realty, Entergy, Alphabet (GOOGL), Lumen, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Microsoft (MSFT), QTS, and PG&E. Some members have already committed to increasing transparency around data center projects and involving communities in the construction process.

On Tuesday local time, Trump had lunch with tech executives from companies including Anthropic, OpenAI, NVIDIA (NVDA), and Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR). After the meeting, Trump said the executives pledged to "work with local communities," adding that "the forms of cooperation could include supplying oil and gas resources, investing in education, and providing economic assistance to residents." He also claimed that people living near data centers "have become very wealthy."

The US Senate is also set to vote this week on a proposal that would require AI companies to bear rising energy costs.

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