{
  "id": 14563904,
  "title": "How backlash against data centres could shape the US midterm elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/how-backlash-against-data-centres-could-shape-the-us-midterm-elections",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T23:02:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rezqpnekro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A growing backlash against data centres is reshaping the political landscape ahead of the US midterm elections. Once untroubled by the issue, Senator Joe Manchin, a long-serving Democrat, has begun organizing meetings to track the impact of the rapid expansion of these sprawling infrastructure projects. The shift in focus is primarily due to a surge in public opposition, driven by concerns over the environmental and social consequences of data centre proliferation.\n\nThe backlash is not isolated to the Democratic Party; Republicans are also being forced to reconsider their stance on data centres. President Donald Trump, who once touted the unrestricted growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, has denounced the opposition as a \"sick conspiracy\" and derided those fighting to prevent the construction of these facilities as \"backwards and poor.\"\n\nThe surge in opposition has resulted in the formation of community groups across the country, with the number of such organizations more than doubling to 833 in the first few months of the year. These groups are protesting data centres on various grounds, including size, construction noise, impact on resources, and the speed of approval by local authorities.\n\nRecent polling indicates that AI regulation and data centres are among the top issues for voters in the upcoming midterm elections, trailing behind the Iran War and economic factors. While proponents argue that data centres will create jobs, research from the Brookings Institution suggests that the actual job creation is lower than claimed.\n\nPoliticians at all levels are now feeling compelled to take a position on the matter. Some, like Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, have implemented temporary pauses on new tax breaks for data centre projects, while others, like Ohio Senator John Husted, have softened their support, advocating for decisions to be made by local citizens and officials. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also adjusted its approach, recognizing the changing sentiment among voters.",
  "summary": "Democrats and Republicans alike are coming out against data centre development, amid growing backlash across the US.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "How backlash against data centres could shape the US midterm elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/how-backlash-against-data-centres-could-shape-the-us-midterm-elections-14564916",
        "published": "2026-10-14T23:02:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}