The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived

"It's the first time Democrats have taken statewide seats in Georgia in nearly two decades. Residents have complained for years about a series of rate hikes from the PSC. But during Hubbard's campaigning, he noticed another topic coming up again and again with his future constituents. "The number one issue was affordability," he says. "But a very close second was data centers and the concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land-and not really paying any taxes.""

"The new report was released by Data Center Watch, a project run by AI security company 10a Labs that tracks community opposition to data centers across the country. The company has been keeping eyes on this topic since 2023, and released its first public findings earlier this year. (While 10a Labs does offer risk analysis for AI companies, report author Miquel Vila says that the Data Center Watch project is separate from the company's main work, and is not paid for by any clients.)"

A Democratic victory for a Georgia Public Service Commission seat highlighted voter concerns about affordability and rapid data center growth. Residents cited rate hikes and increasing worries that data centers consume water, electricity, and land while contributing little in taxes. Georgia has emerged as a major data center hub, partly driven by generous tax incentives, and has become a focal point for community organizing against new projects. A Data Center Watch report from 10a Labs shows rising nationwide opposition to data centers, with red states such as Georgia and Indiana leading a bipartisan pushback. The second quarter showed a sharp increase in opposition activity.

Read at WIRED