{
  "id": 17055252,
  "title": "Data Center Headed Your Way? This Tool Lets You See Where the Candidates Stand.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/data-center-headed-your-way-this-tool-lets-you-see-where-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-29T11:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/ai-data-center-development-boom-midterm-elections-candidates-positions-local-database-tool/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The NAACP and the Memphis-based Black environmental organization Young, Gifted & Green have launched a new nationwide election dashboard called \"Climate on Your Ballot.\" This tool helps residents understand how their votes could impact local environmental issues, particularly data centers, which are a growing concern for Black communities. The platform tracks 1,727 data centers across the nation. \"The political landscape on climate is a civil rights concern as it directly impacts the health and safety of our communities,\" said Abre’ Conner, director of environmental justice at the NAACP. The dashboard allows users to find candidates, explore environmental issues near their homes, and request answers from political candidates. In Clarksdale, Mississippi, residents challenged a rezoning decision that could have led to a data center, claiming they were not properly informed about the land's intended use. In Louisiana and Alabama, local politicians have signed nondisclosure agreements with Big Tech companies to keep details about mega data centers from the public. While residents in these areas may benefit economically through jobs, there is uncertainty about whether these job opportunities will address the specific needs and concerns of Black communities. Data center expansion is also leading to increased electricity costs for Black residents, who may have to choose between paying for essential items like medicine, groceries, and housing. Furthermore, proposed EPA rule changes could further undermine transparency by eliminating federal public-notice and comment requirements for air-pollution permits, potentially allowing developers to begin construction before permits are approved.",
  "summary": "This story was originally published by Capital B and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. If you’re a Black American (or any American, actually) worried about a data center coming to your neighborhood, the questions are immediate and seemingly boundless. Will electricity bills rise? How much water will it use? And will elected officials listen before […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}