General

Americans love AI. They don't want the data centers that power it.

1 outlet1h ago

How this story developed

Jul 9 Texas AI Data Centers Spark Pollution Debate as Rural Residents Face New Hazards
Aug 10 Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive halting approvals for data‑center facilities that lack full public disclosures on tax incentives, electricity, water use and community impact.
Aug 13 Local bans on new data centers have risen past 500 jurisdictions.
Aug 18 Incumbent Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that new data-center projects will no longer receive priority permits or tax breaks unless they cover their full electricity costs, limit water consumption and engage locally. In Texas, Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa aired a TV spot accusing Governor Greg Abbott of favoring data-center interests over rural communities. Similar moves are unfolding in Arizona, New York, Illinois and Ohio, where officials are imposing moratoriums or stricter standards on the industry.
Aug 20 State legislators in New York and California have introduced new measures targeting data‑center development.
Aug 23 California legislators introduced two bills targeting utility tariffs and environmental‑review exemptions for new data centres.
Aug 25 New York and Texas announced moratoria or pauses on new data‑center projects and federal legislation targeting data‑center permitting has moved forward.
Aug 26 Governor Shapiro signed an executive order ending fast‑track permitting for AI data‑center projects.
Aug 28 New York and Texas each announced a pause on new hyperscale data centres.
Aug 30 Judge Lesa Gelb ruled that Salem Township’s planning commission violated Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act by excluding residents from a data‑center ordinance meeting.
Aug 30 Austin’s city council is set to vote on a resolution that would create a specific land‑use category and review process for large AI data centers.
Aug 31 President Trump posted on Truth Social that communities rejecting AI data‑center projects will become “backwards and poor.”
Sep 2 At a virtual G‑20 technology ministers’ session, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk called for accelerated AI data‑center construction and additional power capacity.
Sep 2 Trump labeled communities that reject data‑center projects “backwards and poor” and warned that China would welcome such resistance.