Data centres have become a flashpoint in US politics ahead of the 3 November midterm elections, with both Republicans and Democrats opposing their rapid expansion even as tech companies race to build them.
The world has roughly 12,250 data centres, up sharply from around 8,000 in 2021, according to Data Center Map. The US leads with 4,767 sites, followed by Europe. These warehouse-like facilities house the computer chips and servers powering internet services, AI tools like ChatGPT, and online banking. They typically locate near cities for access to power lines and water for cooling, though larger facilities increasingly appear in rural areas.
The environmental cost is substantial. Data centres worldwide consume more electricity than France, according to analysis cited in the source material. They require significant water for cooling systems, raising concerns about local shortages. The facilities also generate noise and occupy large land areas. Elon Musk's Colossus 2 campus in Texas, which will house hundreds of thousands of Nvidia AI chips and train xAI's Grok chatbot, will use 41 methane gas turbines to power operations. Local activists say this could "significantly increase" air pollution, though local regulators say the turbines will meet air quality standards.
Some 16 US states have proposed laws to ban or temporarily block new data centre construction. President Donald Trump has dismissed opposition as a "sick conspiracy" despite growing public anger, according to the BBC report.
Backlash extends globally. Mexico, France, Indonesia and the UK have faced opposition to data centre development.
Supporters argue data centres are critical for national security and AI development. They create jobs, generate tax revenue and attract investment. A Brookings Center report cited in the article found data centres do produce local employment, though fewer jobs than industry advocates claim. Hyperscale facilities owned by Amazon and Microsoft create larger benefits than "colocation" facilities, which lease space to remote tenants.
Tech spending on AI infrastructure is expected to reach $765 billion this year, with projections topping $1 trillion next year. Some companies explore alternatives like space-based or lunar data centres that could use solar energy, or shifting more AI processing to devices already in homes and pockets.