data center construction

Data center opposition has intensified in 2026, with construction setbacks in the first quarter exceeding 2025's total. At least 75 projects worth over $130 billion were delayed or canceled, driven by community protests and new state moratoriums. Active opposition groups grew from 396 to 833 across 49 states, supported by national organizations like Greenpeace and the NAACP.

Rising gas prices linked to the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran are slowing consumer spending in Ohio, with the Cleveland Fed's Beige Book noting increased fuel costs and inflation are dampening retail sales. Consumer sentiment in May hit its lowest level since at least the 1970s, with lower-income groups and those without college degrees experiencing the strongest declines.

Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed a proposed ban on data center construction. The veto occurred in Westbrook, Maine, on March 10, signaling opposition to legislative efforts restricting data center development.

Satellite and drone imagery reveal 40% of U.S. data center projects may miss 2023 completion deadlines due to construction delays, power challenges, and labor shortages. Major tech firms like Microsoft, Oracle, and OpenAI face setbacks as labor and equipment shortages, along with permitting hurdles, disrupt large-scale AI infrastructure expansion.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and labor leaders warned about AI's potential to displace both blue-collar and white-collar workers. Sanders is advocating for a moratorium on data center construction to address these risks.

A Wisconsin city passed a referendum targeting data center construction, requiring future projects with tax benefits to secure voter approval. Port Washington, located north of Milwaukee, approved the measure with 66% support, marking the first such initiative in the nation.