US Voters Turn Against Data Centers in Midterms, Leaving Developers Facing Tougher Rules
After US midterm elections in which voters broadly opposed data center expansion, OpenAI announced new commitments to local communities. Meanwhile, a bill to speed up energy project permits is advancing in Congress.
Voters in this week's US midterm elections voiced strong opposition to data centers, the large facilities that power artificial intelligence (AI). The outcome means companies building them are likely to face a more restrictive environment, as candidates who back moratoriums won in several places and local ballot measures added obstacles to development.
Election results
In an NBC News poll of voters on Election Day, 76 percent said they opposed data centers in their communities. Dozens of local communities voted directly to restrict development. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, the governor-elect, supports a moratorium on data center development. In Michigan, Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed also backs moratoriums. In Ohio, NBC News projects Democrat Sherrod Brown will beat Republican Jon Husted, whom Brown had called “the face of data centers.” In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins conceded her seat.
OpenAI's commitments
OpenAI, the AI company behind ChatGPT, announced after the vote that it will not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with public officials on data center projects. It will keep only narrow protections for security information, trade secrets and competitively sensitive material. In October, Amazon said it would stop using NDAs with government agencies on such projects.
OpenAI also announced a “Grid Protectors Program,” to be piloted at an upcoming data center in Effingham County, Georgia. The company promises to free up to 1,000 megawatts of power during extreme weather or emergencies, enough to run air conditioners in about 700,000 homes.
Permitting bill in Congress
Separately, a large permitting bill is advancing in Congress with bipartisan support. It could bring energy projects online faster and potentially lower utility bills. Environmental advocates warn that it limits environmental reviews and stops communities from blocking projects in court, so developers could avoid public scrutiny and lean more on fossil fuels.
