A rare consensus has emerged among American voters: opposition to the rapid expansion of data centres.
New polling conducted for Bondi Partners, the advisory firm led by former Australian treasurer Joe Hockey, indicates that backlash against these facilities is intensifying ahead of the November midterm elections.
The sentiment cuts across party lines, with some Republican candidates even positioning themselves against the White House’s stance on the issue.
This political friction arrives as the artificial intelligence sector continues to drive significant capital expenditure.
The era of unfettered data centre expansion appears to be encountering its first substantial regulatory and social headwinds.
Lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing the physical and environmental impact of these facilities, signaling a shift from pure growth support to more cautious oversight.