AI data center boom faces backlash at US ballot box - CNA

Northwest Ohio community members gather to discuss data centers in Waterville, Ohio, U.S., May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Cox/File Photo A drone view shows construction underway on Meta's new data center in Middleton Township, Ohio, U.S., May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Cox/File Photo Boulder City resident Janelle Sorenson wears a pin reading "No Data Centers" at a town hall held by Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford in Boulder City, Nevada, US, October 4, 2026. Ford is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo. REUTERS/Daniel Cole SEARCH "COLE U.S. UNIONS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 29 Oct 2026 06:01PM (Updated: 30 Oct 2026 12:09AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST WASHINGTON, Oct 29 : Voters in 10 US states will decide on Election Day whether to curb data center development in their communities, as the rapid buildout needed to power the AI boom stirs local opposition.

Resistance is especially visible in Ohio, one of the country's fastest-growing data center markets. No state has more data center-related ballot measures, with voters in more than a dozen jurisdictions set to consider 21 proposals alongside Tuesday's midterm elections, according to the nonpartisan research group Ballotpedia. 

Voters in 38 local jurisdictions will consider at least 41 measures that would delay, prohibit or impose new requirements on data centers, the sprawling facilities that provide the computing power required to run AI applications.  Most states require petition drives or other demonstrations of public support before measures can qualify for the ballot, and their appearance reflects growing data center opposition across the political spectrum.

Support for banning construction of certain data centers is coming from both Democrats and Republicans, said local organizer Jessica Baker. "We all want the same thing."

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Baker, who is part of the advocacy group Conserve Ohio, said concerns about data centers' electricity and water demands are driving the opposition. Even if developers generate their own power through gas turbines or nuclear reactors, many residents still do not want the facilities built near their communities because they are worried about health risks to their kids, such as asthma, she said.

If Ohio voters approve restrictions, developers are likely to steer projects elsewhere rather than abandon them altogether, said Baron Fung, who oversees IT infrastructure research at market research firm Dell'Oro Group. The industry already contends with major obstacles, including years-long waits for grid connections and rising construction costs.

“If there’s a cancellation or delay in certain sites, (developers) can potentially shift some of that demand to another site,” Fung said.

Recent growth suggests local opposition has not meaningfully slowed the industry. US data center capacity under construction increased 48 per cent from December 2025 to June 2026, measured in gigawatts, according to John McWilliams, head of data center insights at real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. 

“Even though there are areas or jurisdictions around the country where there is some friction between developers, there’s still areas where projects are moving forward,” McWilliams said.

The ballot measures have drawn attention from some of the industry's largest players. In Sunbury, near Columbus, a measure that would ban data centers that use more than 25 megawatts of power could derail Amazon's proposed $2 billion data center development. Amazon's public policy lead Shannon Kellogg appeared on local television in October to answer questions about the project ahead of the vote. 

An Amazon spokesperson declined to say whether the ballot initiatives across the US would affect the company's data center expansion plans. 

"We're focused on working with local residents and officials to build data centers that support jobs, strengthen local economies through millions in tax payments and power the technologies customers rely on," the spokesperson said. "Regardless of the outcome of any single measure, our commitment to the communities where we operate remains the same."

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