Voters approved more than 40 measures to slow or ban data center growth
More than 40 ballot measures gave Americans the choice to speed up or slow down data center projects.
In the recent midterm elections, a significant number of voters across the United States voiced their opposition to the expansion of AI data centers. Across 30 jurisdictions, 41 local ballot measures related to data center permits, construction, or regulation were approved. This trend is not limited to a single state, with Ohio leading in terms of measures, with 21 measures passed.
In Illinois alone, five townships voted against future data center construction, while in Kansas, El Dorado passed a 10-year ban on high impact data centers. Maine also saw several towns pass moratoriums on data center development. California, Florida, and Nevada also saw similar trends, with residents rejecting data center projects or imposing restrictions.
These measures come at a significant cost to the AI industry, with the tech sector spending millions on election campaigns and seeing a decline in stock prices following the election results. The new Democratic-led government in Texas, led by Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, has made data center moratoriums a priority, which could severely impact the industry's plans for expansion.
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