Local resistance to data centers is prompting some Republican politicians to soften their support for the projects, putting them at odds with President Donald Trump's push to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, the BBC reported.
Residents interviewed in Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Oregon described concerns about project size, construction and operating noise, effects on air, water and energy resources, and how quickly local authorities approve developments.
The approval process is largely local. The BBC notes that local rules and permits govern construction, leaving federal lawmakers with limited direct influence over individual projects.
In Ohio, Republican Senator Husted has softened his support, saying decisions should rest with local citizens and elected officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, also a Republican, shifted from promoting the state's AI growth to citing safety and quality-of-life concerns, the BBC reported. The report contrasts those positions with Trump's support for expansion and recounts his description of the backlash as a "sick conspiracy."
Arizona has taken a specific step on incentives. Governor Katie Hobbs enacted a three-year pause in July on new tax breaks for data-center projects, the BBC reported. That measure concerns tax benefits, rather than a blanket construction ban.
Developers also described the difficulty of gaining local support. Balaji Tammabattula, chief executive of Barupon, told the BBC that residents opposed his roughly 700-acre data-center and technology campus in Liberty, Texas, despite designs to capture rainwater and supply its own energy needs.
