Tech companies increasingly defeated by communities opposed to data centers
AP News••business
Key Points:
- Communities across the U.S. are increasingly opposing large data center projects due to concerns over energy and water consumption, noise, environmental impact, and loss of open space, leading to numerous local defeats and delays.
- Between April and June, 20 data center proposals valued at $98 billion in 11 states were blocked or delayed amid local opposition and regulatory pushback, signaling growing resistance to these developments.
- Residents and advocacy groups are organizing protests, door-to-door campaigns, and legal challenges, with some municipal meetings becoming highly contentious as communities demand greater transparency and control over zoning decisions.
- Major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook are facing operational risks from community opposition, with some developers reconsidering projects or selling properties due to zoning
