US Data Center Protests Spread to 42 States

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Reuters, opponents staged 142 protests on Saturday across 42 U.S. states against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, as data center construction accelerates nationwide in response to rising artificial intelligence demand. Humans First co-founder and former Tea Party leader Kramer said the data centers were expanding across the country without accountability and called the perceived infringement on public freedom unacceptable. Reuters said opposition to data center construction is one of the few issues that has bridged ideological divides in the United States. Kramer said the anger is not partisan and predicted it will become a key issue in the November midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election. Although she has criticized Republican leaders for giving big tech companies a free pass, she said she does not support the blanket ban being pursued by Democratic-led New York state and instead wants decision-making returned to local residents. A Reuters and Ipsos poll in June found that only one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of data center construction, while just 14% backed building such facilities in their communities to support AI projects from Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Elon Musk's xAI. Common concerns include excessive water use, higher electricity bills, noise pollution, and the loss of farmland and wildlife habitat. The Data Center Coalition said in a statement that the industry continues to work with policymakers, stakeholders and local residents to ensure data centers benefit their regions rather than burden them, while reducing potential negative effects on households and businesses.