Data Centers Meet Fierce Backlash From Voters as Dozens of Towns Reject New Projects

Data centers appeared on the ballot in 41 communities across 12 states this week, and in nearly every case, voters resoundingly voted to restrict or ban them, a sign that backlash continues to grow against the infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence. Of the 41 ballot initiatives, only Harwood, ND, passed a pro-data center ordinance. Voters there rejected a ballot initiative that would have required the city to create an independent review paid for by the developer to evaluate the impact of data centers in the community. In Ohio, which has seemingly become an epicenter of the data center debate, 18 counties put data centers on the ballot. Many measures did not outright ban data centers, but set limits on noise pollution, water and energy use, and other environmental concerns. Tech companies have poured millions into expanding Ohio's already substantial number of data centers. AI and crypto political action committees spent an estimated $65 million to influence the Ohio midterms, backing Republican Senator John Husted, who lost re-election to Democrat Sherrod Brown on Tuesday. Both Hubbard, OH and Urbana, OH, passed outright bans on data centers, while other communitie...