Data centre backlash scrambles U.S. midterm politics
Almost alone among Republicans, U.S. President Donald Trump has not moved. He still calls the industry essential to beating China on AI, leaving him at odds with candidates running under his own banner
Data centers, essential to the United States' AI boom, have become a contentious issue in the upcoming midterm elections. Anger over rising electricity bills, noise, and a growing distrust of Silicon Valley have led Democrats and some Republicans to oppose these facilities. In Ohio, a Senate battleground, demand from data centers drove up capacity costs by $9.3 billion in a single year, a 174% increase.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen new projects, while his Democratic challenger wants a moratorium until stronger safeguards are in place. Almost alone among Republicans, President Donald Trump still supports the industry, calling it essential to beating China in AI. The issue has divided candidates in various races across the country, from Florida to Pennsylvania to Wyoming, with some Democrats advocating for tighter regulations and others defending their support for the industry.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
