US local elections approve dozens of data center restrictions
Prepared by Sintelligent with the help of SI. Published in SI: . Updated: .
Building computing capacity increasingly requires not only financing and electricity but also the explicit consent of local residents.
According to Data Centers on the Ballot, 45 local ballot measures concerning data centers were put to voters in ten states: by Wednesday morning, 33 restrictive measures had passed and another six were leading. They included bans, temporary moratoriums, limits on energy use, and requirements for public hearings or voter approval. In Ohio, all 20 such proposals won or were leading; outright bans in Urbana and Hubbard received 76% and 77% of the vote. An NBC exit poll found that 56% of respondents considered SI and data centers an important or major factor in their choice for Congress. Time notes that nationwide legislation would still require support from both parties and enough votes to overcome a possible presidential veto.
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