Opposition to the rapid construction of data centers for Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasing in America. Voters in 10 states will decide on at least 41 local proposals related to data center construction in the midterm elections on November 3. These include proposals like ban on new projects, changing the conditions of construction and taking additional approvals. The maximum opposition is being seen in Ohio.
Washington: The construction of data centers has now become an election issue amid the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in America. People in 10 states of the country will vote to decide whether big data centers should be built in their areas or new restrictions should be imposed on them. At least 41 proposals will be voted on in 38 local areas, coinciding with the snap elections on 3 November 2026. Some of these proposals are to ban the construction of new data centres, while some demand to tighten the rules related to electricity-water consumption and construction permission.
Why is opposition to data centers increasing in America?
AI technology is developing rapidly in America. For this, a large number of data centers are required, where thousands of computer servers work together. These servers require large amounts of electricity to run continuously. Water and other cooling techniques are also used to control the temperature of machines.
For this reason, people in many American cities are opposing the construction of new data centers. Local residents are concerned that these projects could increase demand for electricity and put pressure on water availability. People also want to know what impact the construction of big data centers will have on their electricity bills and the surrounding environment.
Voting on maximum 21 proposals in Ohio
The maximum opposition to data centers is being seen in the US state of Ohio. According to Ballotpedia, a non-partisan organization that tracks election data, 21 proposals related to data centers in more than a dozen local areas of the state have been put up for voting.
There is a demand for a complete ban on the construction of big data centers in some areas. Other proposals call for companies to require approval from local administration or voters before starting construction. Ohio is one of the fastest growing markets for data center construction in the US. In such a situation, big technology companies are also keeping an eye on the election decisions here.
Supporters of both Democrat and Republican parties are protesting
The special thing about the campaigns going on at the local level against data centers is that there is consensus among the supporters of political parties. According to Jessica Baker, a member of Conserve Ohio, an organization working in Ohio, people from both the Democratic and Republican parties are supporting a ban on the construction of some large data centers.
Baker says that local people want to protect their areas' electricity, water and environment. According to him, even if the companies themselves make arrangements to generate electricity from gas turbines or nuclear energy, the concerns of the people living nearby will not be completely eliminated.
Some families fear pollution from power generation and health problems such as asthma in children. However, the existence of such health harms from a particular data center can only be concluded through separate environmental and scientific investigations.
Amazon's $2 billion project also in trouble
An important proposal regarding data centers has been put up for voting in Sunbury, near the city of Columbus, Ohio. In this, it has been said that there will be a ban on the construction of data centers that use more than 25 MW of electricity. If local voters support the proposal, it could impact Amazon's proposed data center project worth about US$2 billion.
Before the vote, Amazon's public policy chief Shannon Kellogg took part in a local television program and answered people's questions. Amazon says its data centers create jobs and support the local economy through tax revenue. However, the company has not yet clarified what changes it will make in its expansion plans if the election verdict is in favor of the ban.
Data center business growing rapidly despite opposition
Despite local opposition, construction of data centers in the US continues to grow. According to data from real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield, data center capacity under construction in the US has increased by 48 percent between December 2025 and June 2026.
The company's data center specialist John McWilliams says that in some places projects are stuck due to protests and administrative problems, but in many other areas construction is continuing normally. The data center industry already faces problems such as long wait times for connection to the power grid and rising construction costs.
Companies can take projects to other areas
According to Baron Fung, an expert at market research company Dell'Oro Group, if construction restrictions are imposed in Ohio or other states, companies will not necessarily cancel their entire project.
In such a situation, they can choose to build the data center in another city or state. This means that restrictions on new construction in some local areas will not necessarily halt the development of AI data centers across the US. However, shifting the projects to other places may also face challenges like land, electricity and necessary permissions.