Data center development faced strong opposition in local ballot measures during the US midterm elections. According to the Data Centers on the Ballot tracker, 33 measures restricting development had passed, six more were leading, and five had no results posted. One measure in Harwood, North Dakota, which would have added a review process for industrial projects including data centers, had failed.
The measures cover a range of proposals, including permanent bans, temporary moratoriums and limits based on facility size or energy use. A separate tracker covering 46 measures in 10 states found that all 33 proposals aimed at limiting data centers were on course to pass. Of 13 measures intended to permit data center construction, 11 appeared likely to fail.
The election also brought recalls in Piqua, Ohio, where the mayor and two council members were removed, and in Yukon, Oklahoma, where the mayor was recalled. The source reports that these officials had previously supported data center bans.
It remains unclear how the votes will affect projects already underway. The source notes that, among more than 300 local data center bans enacted across the country, three developments totaling 2.3 gigawatts had been delayed. It also cites 38 gigawatts of capacity expected to come online by 2027 and projected infrastructure investment of $32 trillion by 2050.
The results may influence future projects as concerns persist over electricity costs, noise and other effects on nearby communities. President Donald Trump has backed measures including an energy dividend for local communities and a pledge for technology companies, state governors and utility companies to cover data center-related costs. However, the election results suggest those efforts did not shift voter sentiment in the areas that held votes.
Sources: Tom's Hardware.