American voters have approved restrictions on large data centers across dozens of communities, exposing resistance to the artificial intelligence boom. The results of this week’s midterm elections highlight a potential obstacle to U.S. technological ambitions as competition with China intensifies.
More than three dozen local measures have passed, according to consulting firm Redbud Consulting, adding to restrictions imposed by nearly 600 jurisdictions nationwide. In Piqua, Ohio, voters approved a ban on facilities exceeding 25 megawatts, threatening a Meta project worth more than $1 billion, while residents of Ottawa, Kansas, and Janesville, Wisconsin, also backed restrictions.
“Democrat, Republican, that didn’t matter,” said Alisha Lange, a Piqua farmer who campaigned against the proposed development. “People want their town back.” In Ottawa, activist Michael Lewis echoed the opposition, declaring: “We’re not for sale.”
The backlash comes as Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon invest in computing infrastructure. The expansion has become a strategic issue in U.S.–China competition, with Beijing developing domestic computing capacity and alternatives to American semiconductor technology. President Donald Trump has strongly defended data centers as engines of local prosperity, declaring: “If you want to get rich as a state or as a town, if you want to pay lower taxes, if you want to create tremendous wealth […] you’re going to want a data center.” He also warned that communities rejecting such projects risk losing investment to other locations, including China. French media have reported on restrictions affecting Chinese access to advanced computing resources.
Meanwhile, AI-linked cyberattacks targeting supermarket refrigeration systems across at least 11 European countries have prompted action by EU and national authorities. Hackers also targeted cold-storage equipment at French blood bank facilities, although officials said no blood supplies were lost. These incidents highlight the fragility of infrastructure, including electricity-dependent systems, and the dangers of overreliance on electronic technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The election results reveal a tension between national priorities and local control over land, energy, and resources. While Washington seeks to sustain its position in AI industry, communities are demanding scrutiny of projects whose electricity requirements and environmental impacts may extend beyond their economic benefits. China’s computing ambitions sharpen those disputes, while Europe‘s cyber incidents raise concerns about critical infrastructure. For the United States, sustaining AI leadership will require not only expanding computing capacity but also ensuring reliable electricity grids, stronger cybersecurity, and greater resilience against technological disruptions. (AFP+EIR)
