Meet the Gen Zers fighting back against AI data centers—70% of young adults don’t want one in their town
Young voters say the AI buildout is driving up their bills and pricing them out of the future. Days before the midterms, they’re packing council meetings, and governors are paying attention.
Elijah Lee, a high school leader for Voters of Tomorrow, is part of a Gen Z effort to fight against growing AI data centers. The group believes young people have valid concerns about the long-term impact of these data centers. Recent surveys show that 70% of adults under 30 oppose new data centers in their area, far more than older age groups.
This opposition is growing across the country, with incidents like protests in Hermantown, Minnesota, and delays in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Young people are concerned about the financial implications for younger generations, water usage, noise, and the overall quality of life. Economists warn that the burden of these costs will fall disproportionately on lower-income households.
Politicians, like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, are beginning to respond with stricter regulations on data center development.
Written by urgent.news from Fortune's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
