Voters approved restrictions on data centers in at least 38 local jurisdictions during Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States, according to reporting by The Washington Post, as debate grows over the facilities that power artificial intelligence and cloud services.
What voters approved
The measures varied from place to place and included:
- Bans on new data centers.
- Construction moratoriums, pausing new projects.
- Limits on electricity use.
- Requirements for public approval before projects go ahead.
Measures passed in communities across several states, including Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida. In Joliet Township, Illinois, nearly 80% of voters supported restrictions.
Counts differ depending on which measures are included. Data from Redbud Consulting cited by The Verge found that 33 of 45 local ballot measures on data centers will restrict development. An NBC News Election Day poll found that 76% of voters opposed data centers being built in their own communities.
Why data centers have become a local issue
Data centers house the computers that run websites, cloud services and AI models. Demand for them has grown rapidly with the expansion of AI.
Supporters of new projects point to investment, construction jobs and tax revenue. Residents and local groups who back restrictions have raised concerns about electricity demand and its effect on local power supplies and bills, water use for cooling, noise, land use, and the relatively small number of permanent jobs some facilities create.
The votes show these decisions increasingly being made at the local level, where communities weigh the benefits against the costs to their area.
What happens next
The new rules apply only in the jurisdictions that approved them, and their details differ widely. Developers may look for sites elsewhere, negotiate conditions with local authorities, or challenge some measures. Similar proposals are likely to appear in other communities as demand for data centers continues.
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