Key facts
- Over 200 data centers are planned or under construction in competitive U.S. House districts.
- Data centers have become a contentious issue due to rising electricity bills, water consumption, and tech industry influence.
- 40 of 69 competitive districts have data centers planned or under construction, according to a POLITICO analysis.
- Lawmakers are struggling to form a unified party message on data centers.
- Proposals for data centers have faced significant community opposition, leading to cancellations and pauses.
Data centers, driven by the demand for artificial intelligence, are becoming a significant political issue in competitive U.S. House districts, according to a POLITICO analysis. More than 200 such facilities are planned or under construction in dozens of races that will decide control of the House.
The rapid buildout of this energy-intensive infrastructure has ignited opposition from residents concerned about rising electricity bills, water consumption, the use of farmland, and the influence of the tech industry. This grassroots frustration has led to data centers being featured in campaign ads and has even toppled local elected officials.
POLITICO's analysis of data from Data Center Map found that 40 out of 69 competitive districts have data centers either planned or under construction. While Republicans represent a majority of these districts, the issue poses a challenge for both parties. In total, approximately 1,500 data centers are planned or being built across 232 congressional districts, with a nearly even partisan split.
Campaigns and political strategists acknowledge that while there is no unified national party message on data centers, they are emerging as a major factor in specific districts. Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur described the opposition as "spontaneous combustion coming up from the grassroots." Lawmakers are responding with a variety of approaches, from outright opposition to embracing data centers for economic development and national security reasons.
Federal efforts to address the issue include a non-binding agreement from tech executives to provide their own power for data centers and legislative proposals aimed at similar goals. However, some lawmakers, like Rep. Tom Barrett, argue that federal involvement in local zoning decisions would set a dangerous precedent.
Proposals for data centers have faced significant local pushback, resulting in canceled or paused projects in states like Wisconsin. Candidates, particularly incumbents, are navigating a difficult political landscape, balancing potential support from the tech lobby against voter concerns about rising utility costs.