It’s time for a fair deal on data centers

Communities across America — rural and suburban, red and blue — have been embroiled in debates over data centers. A backlash has been brewing across the nation for months, and it’s reaching a tipping point.

For many Americans, discussions about AI can feel abstract and distant, occurring in far-off labs or on screens. But data centers are physical buildings that reshape neighborhoods and spike electricity bills without residents’ consent. And when residents see bulldozers roll into town, voter anger is fueled by the fact that data center deals are often made behind closed doors, denying residents a seat at the table.