Backlash against data centers could cost the US its AI edge

The article warns that growing public and political backlash against data center construction in the United States could undermine American leadership in artificial intelligence. As the US approaches midterm elections, bipartisan opposition has emerged, including a nationwide protest, a White House-brokered Ratepayer Protection Pledge signed by Republican governors, and New York's first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. The piece argues that while the AI race may be won in laboratories, it could be lost in the political arena due to community concerns over energy, water, land use, and tax incentives. It also notes that foreign adversaries including China, Russia, and Iran are actively working to foment opposition to data centers to undermine US technological leadership. The author contends that failing to build the necessary digital and energy infrastructure could cost the US jobs, military readiness, and economic advantages to competitors like China.