Progressive Funding Fuels Coordinated Push Against U.S. Data Center Expansion

In a recent interview, Larry Behrens, communications director for Power The Future, warned that opposition to data-center construction is being orchestrated by left-wing groups that rely on sizable progressive money. He cited Public Citizen’s acknowledgment of support from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Sierra Club’s $3.6 million receipt from Arabella Advisors’ Sixteen Thirty Fund between 2014 and 2022, as well as CodePink’s connections to socialist donor Neville Roy Singham.

Behrens likened the coordinated messaging to the playbook used in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, suggesting the campaigns are less grassroots and more funded. Texas has become a focal point, with coalitions such as the Texas Data Center Rebellion and joint forums like “Defend Dog’s Head” rallying against projects. Critics argue the opposition masks broader ideological resistance to American energy production and job creation, while supporters claim legitimate local concerns about water and land use. The issue is influencing midterm races, prompting candidates from both parties to address data-center regulation and community impact.