The $64 Billion Backlash: How Community Opposition Became Data Center's Biggest Financial Risk

Feb 25, 2026 Written By Blake Crosley

Sixty-four billion dollars in data center projects now sit blocked or delayed across the United States because local communities said no.[1] That figure captures only two years of opposition. The Q2 2025 update from Data Center Watch identified $98 billion across 20 projects in 11 states stalled during a single quarter.[2] At least 188 local opposition groups now operate in 40 states, up from 142 groups across 24 states just months earlier.[3] Project cancellations quadrupled from six in 2024 to 25 in 2025, compared with just two in all of 2023.[4] The data center industry faces a financial risk it never anticipated: organized, bipartisan resistance from the very communities where hyperscalers want to build.

TL;DR

Community opposition has blocked $18 billion and delayed $46 billion in U.S. data center projects since mid-2024, with cancellations accelerating from 2 projects in 2023 to 25 in 2025. At least 188 organized opposition groups span 40 states, and lawmakers in 14+ states have enacted or proposed moratoriums. The resistance crosses party lines (55% Republican, 45% Democrat among opposing politicians) and has produced electoral consequences ranging from full council wipeouts to recall attempts. Developers who fail to address water consumption, electricity rate impacts, noise pollution, and job-to-investment ratios face delays averaging 18-24 months and cost overruns that can kill project economics entirely.

The financial damage: $64 billion and counting

Data Center Watch, an independent research organization backed by 10a Labs, published the first comprehensive accounting of opposition-driven financial impact in May 2025.[5] The numbers shattered the industry assumption that community resistance represented a minor permitting nuisance.

Breakdown of the $64 billion impact (through March 2025):

Category	Value	Projects Affected
Projects fully blocked	$18 billion	Multiple across 12+ states
Projects delayed 6+ months	$46 billion	Dozens across 20+ states
Q2 2025 alone (blocked + delayed)	$98 billion	20 projects in 11 states
Projects canceled in 2025	25 total	Up from 6 in 2024, 2 in 2023

The acceleration tells the story. Of the 25 data center projects canceled due to local opposition in 2025, 21 terminated in the second half of the year.[6] Opposition groups learned from each other, shared legal strategies, and built regional coalitions that turned isolated complaints into coordinated campaigns.

Water use dominates the list of community concerns, mentioned in more than 40% of contested projects.[7] Energy consumption and electricity rate increases rank second, followed by noise pollution. These three issues appear in virtually every opposition campaign, creating a predictable playbook that developers have failed to preempt.

The moratorium wave: 14 states and growing

Communities in at least 14 states have enacted temporary pauses on data center development.[8] The moratorium movement jumped from local town boards to state legislatures in early 2026, threatening to reshape the national permitting landscape.

Active moratoriums and bans by state (as of February 2026):

State	Action	Scope
New York	Senate Bill S.9144 proposed	3-year statewide moratorium on facilities >20MW[9]
Georgia	8+ towns/counties enacted moratoriums	Local bans; statewide moratorium bill (HB 1012) introduced[10]
Michigan	19+ communities paused approvals	Local moratoriums from 3 months to 1 year[11]
North Carolina	Chatham County 12-month moratorium	Covers data centers and crypto mining through Feb 2027[12]
North Carolina	Canton 1-year moratorium	Approved Feb 2026 after 50+ residents voiced concerns[13]
Indiana	4 counties restricted development	Foreign-ownership ban bill (SB 431) advanced[14]
Ohio	Muhlenberg Township 12-month moratorium	Passed after 700+ signature petition[15]
Ohio	Archbold Township considering moratorium	Response to developer rezoning proposal[16]
Virginia	Multiple counties tightened zoning	Statewide moratorium bill introduced[17]
Maryland	Statewide moratorium bill proposed	Pending legislative action[18]
Oklahoma	Statewide moratorium bill introduced	Pending legislative action[19]
Vermont	Statewide moratorium bill introduced	Pending legislative action[20]
Texas	Hood County rejected moratorium 3-2	State senator warned county lacked authority[21]
Wisconsin	Multiple communities restricting	Manitowoc County towns paused development[22]

New York's S.9144 represents the most aggressive proposal yet. Introduced by Senators Liz Krueger and Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Anna Kelles on February 6, 2026, the bill would halt all permits for facilities exceeding 20 megawatts for at least three years and 90 days.[23] During the moratorium, the Department of Environmental Conservation must produce a generic environmental impact statement covering energy use, water resources, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and electronic waste.[24] The Public Service Commission would report on ratepayer cost impacts and issue orders ensuring data center developers bear those costs.[25] Food & Water Watch called the proposal the "strongest-in-the-nation" data center moratorium.[26]

Michigan illustrates how quickly the moratorium movement spreads. At least 19 communities from Saginaw to the outskirts of Muskegon passed or proposed development pauses, ranging from three months to one year.[27] Communities like Howell Township responded to active proposals, while others acted preemptively. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard made data center opposition a central campaign issue, calling for a statewide one-year pause.[28] The Michigan Sierra Club presented a petition reinforcing the call for a statewide moratorium.[29]

Georgia's moratorium wave swept through at least eight towns and counties, prompting bipartisan state legislation.[30] Clayton County commissioners unanimously approved a moratorium on all data center development in unincorporated areas.[31] State Rep. Ruwa Romman introduced House Bill 1012 for a statewide moratorium until February 2027, while State Sen. Chuck Hufstetler pushed legislation to protect residential ratepayers from data center infrastructure costs.[32]

Electoral consequences: Careers end over data centers

The political cost of supporting data center development without community buy-in has proven severe enough to alter election outcomes and trigger recall campaigns.

Warrenton, Virginia: Full council wipeout. Residents voted out every town council member who supported Amazon's proposed data center in November 2024.[33] Over 500 people attended a Town Council meeting, and nearly 130 speakers, including Oscar-winner Robert Duvall, testified in opposition.[34] The newly elected council voted unanimously to amend the zoning ordinance, removing data centers as a permissible use in industrial districts entirely.[35]

Cascade Locks, Oregon: Officials recalled. Voters recalled two Port Authority officials in June 2023 for approving a $100 million Roundhouse Digital Infrastructure project.[36] The project died within weeks. Residents cited fears of increased utility rates and questioned the developer's credibility.[37]

Port Washington, Wisconsin: Recall attempted. Opponents of the $15 billion OpenAI/Oracle Stargate data center filed a petition to recall Mayor Ted Neitzke on February 17, 2026.[38] The effort fell several hundred signatures short of the 1,600 required, according to the city, but the campaign demonstrated the intensity of opposition even against a project backed by the nation's most prominent AI initiative.[39] A separate community group filed a lawsuit against the city over the data center on February 14.[40] Construction broke ground despite ongoing legal challenges.[41]

St. Louis, Missouri: Four-hour public hearing, moratorium denied. On February 12, 2026, St. Louis planning officials heard more than four hours of testimony at a packed public hearing on proposed data center zoning rules.[42] The vast majority of speakers demanded an outright ban on data center development in the city.[43] City planners proposed limiting large-scale data centers to industrial zones, with a 500,000-square-foot cap.[44] The Board of Aldermen voted 7-8 against a temporary pause the following day, but the narrow margin signaled deep divisions.[45]

The bipartisan nature of opposition confounds traditional political analysis. Among politicians who have publicly opposed data center projects, 55% identify as Republican and 45% as Democrat.[46] Data center opposition unites rural conservatives concerned about property rights and industrial encroachment with progressive activists focused on environmental justice and energy equity.

The Manassas Battlefield: Conservation vs. computation

The Prince William County Digital Gateway case became the national symbol of data center overreach. The proposed project near Gainesville, Virginia, would create the largest data center corridor in the world: 22 million square feet across 2,100 acres at the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park.[47]

Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving voided the rezoning in January 2026, ruling that the county's notice to the public did not comply with state or county code.[48] Six conservation groups, including the American Battlefield Trust, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, filed amicus briefs urging the court to protect the battlefield site.[49]

The county approved an additional $400,000 to defend the Digital Gateway in appeals court, bringing total legal expenditures to significant levels.[50] Oral arguments before the Virginia Court of Appeals began the week of February 23, 2026.[51] A written decision will come later in the year, but the case already established that courts will scrutinize data center approvals for procedural compliance.

The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition to Protect Prince William County organized sustained grassroots campaigns that drew national media attention.[52] The case demonstrated that opposition groups can leverage historical preservation, environmental law, and procedural challenges simultaneously to delay or block even the largest projects.

Why communities fight: The grievance list

Opposition campaigns coalesce around a predictable set of concerns. Understanding each grievance reveals why developer talking points about economic benefits consistently fail to persuade.

Water consumption

Google reported using more than 5 billion gallons of water across all data centers in 2023, with 31% of freshwater withdrawals coming from watersheds with medium or high water scarcity.[53] Preliminary modeling suggests data center water use could reach tens of billions of gallons per year by 2030, rivaling the needs of several million households.[54]

The competition for water triggers visceral opposition in drought-prone regions. In Nevada's Mason Valley, farmers already facing potential water cuts from decades of groundwater decline viewed a proposed data center as an existential threat.[55] A proposed Delaware City facility would consume between 10 and 20 million gallons annually, drawing pushback from residents concerned about municipal supply.[56]

Electricity rates and grid strain

The U.S. Department of Energy projects data centers could consume between 6.7% and 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023.[57] The surge drives infrastructure upgrades that utilities pass on to residential customers.

Virginia provides the clearest example. The State Corporation Commission approved monthly residential rate increases of $11.24 in 2026, 23.7% lower than Dominion Energy's request but still substantial.[58] To address data center impacts directly, the SCC created a new GS-5 rate class for customers demanding 25 megawatts or more, requiring minimum payments of 85% of contracted distribution and transmission demand beginning January 1, 2027.[59]

Georgia's Public Service Commission created rules requiring data centers to fund upstream generation, transmission, and distribution costs.[60] Lawmakers pushed further legislation, arguing the rules did not go far enough to insulate residential customers.[61]

North Carolina residents face similar pressures. A surge of AI data centers drives up power and water demand across the state, increasing emissions and electricity costs for customers.[62]

Noise pollution and health

Data centers generate noise from diesel generators and HVAC systems, with internal levels reaching 96 A-weighted decibels, well above the 85 dBA threshold considered harmful to hearing.[63] Nearby residents report headaches, stress, and sleep disturbance from the constant hum of cooling systems.[64]

Fossil-fueled backup generators emit nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, increasing rates of respiratory disease, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer risk in surrounding communities.[65] A study published in ScienceDirect called for empirical research on the human health impacts of global data center expansion.[66]

Fairfax County, Virginia, established minimum setbacks of 200 feet from residential districts and mandatory noise studies before and after construction.[67] Few other jurisdictions have adopted comparable standards, leaving communities to negotiate protections project by project.

The jobs mismatch

The economic benefit argument collapses under scrutiny when communities examine operational employment. A typical large data center employs around 1,700 workers during construction but only about 150 in permanent operations, according to a 2017 report sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center.[68]

A proposed $5 billion data center project near Columbus, Georgia, promised just 195 permanent jobs.[69] The ratio of capital investment to permanent employment ($25.6 million per job) makes data centers among the least labor-intensive industrial investments a community can attract.

Brookings Institution researchers found that the economic benefits decline substantially after the construction phase.[70] The tax revenue argument holds more weight: projected annual property tax revenue from data center clusters can reach significant levels, supporting schools, public safety, and infrastructure.[71] But residents who expected job creation comparable to traditional industrial development feel deceived when the construction crews leave and a skeleton staff remains.

Property values: Uncertain evidence

George Mason University research found no "persistent negative impact" on home values near data centers, and the analysis could not demonstrate statistical evidence that proximity systematically affects housing values.[72] However, uncertainty itself becomes a grievance. Residents worry that proximity could diminish property values and make relocation difficult, and the absence of definitive reassurance fuels opposition rather than resolving it.[73]

National politics: Sanders, DeSantis, and the moratorium call

Senator Bernie Sanders became the first member of Congress to call for a national moratorium on data center construction in December 2025.[74] "The moratorium will give democracy a chance to catch up, and ensure that the benefits of these technologies work for all of us, not just the wealthiest people on Earth," Sanders stated.[75]

The political alignment surprised observers. Both the progressive Independent senator from Vermont and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida emerged as leading skeptics of the data center boom.[76] CNBC characterized the convergence as a signal that "a political reckoning is brewing over the AI industry's impact on electricity prices, grid stability and the labor market."[77]

More than 230 organizations across all 50 states signed a letter to Congress organized by Food & Water Watch, calling for a national moratorium on data center siting and construction.[78] The coalition includes environmental groups, ratepayer advocates, and community organizations that view data center expansion as a threat to local resources.

Florida Power & Light stated that residential customers should not pay more because of data center projects, with protections ensuring data centers fund 100% of new power generation costs.[79] Florida Senate legislation seeks to create a regulatory framework addressing electricity and water use from large-scale facilities.[80] The diversity of legislative responses across states creates a patchwork of regulations that complicates national deployment planning.

Community benefit agreements: The emerging compromise

Brookings Institution researchers argued that community benefit agreements (CBAs) represent the most viable path forward for data center developers facing opposition.[81] A CBA creates a legally binding contract between community organizations and a developer, specifying deliverables the company must provide in exchange for local approval.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania established a model CBA for data center development. Developers committed to a water-use cap, noise and air emissions controls, and $20 million in community contributions split between economic development and sustainable development.[82] Construction of the initial 400,000-square-foot facility targeted January 2026, with two additional buildings planned through November 2026.[83]

Common CBA provisions for data centers include:

Category	Typical Provisions
Employment	Regional contractor requirements, first-source hiring policies, apprenticeship programs
Environment	Water use caps, disclosure requirements, ongoing monitoring funded by developer
Infrastructure	Road upgrades, utility improvements, broadband expansion
Financial	Property tax commitments, community development funds, rate protection guarantees
Noise/Health	Setback requirements, continuous noise monitoring, health impact assessments

Good Jobs First, a national policy research organization, documented how CBAs can mitigate community harms from data center development while preserving economic benefits for developers.[84] The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) published research on ensuring data centers deliver community benefits amid hypergrowth.[85]

The CBA model offers developers a structured alternative to fighting opposition through litigation and lobbying. Communities that secure enforceable agreements gain protections that generic zoning codes rarely provide. The challenge lies in reaching agreement before opposition calcifies into outright rejection.

What the data reveals about opposition patterns

Analyzing the Data Center Watch dataset and supplementary reporting reveals clear patterns in where and why opposition succeeds.

Top reasons cited in opposition campaigns (% of contested projects):[86]

Concern	Frequency
Water consumption	40%+
Energy use / electricity rates	35%+
Noise pollution	30%+
Environmental impact (air, emissions)	25%+
Property values	20%+
Insufficient jobs	15%+
Historical/cultural preservation	10%+

Geographic concentration of opposition:

The heaviest opposition clusters in Virginia (the nation's largest data center market), Georgia (the fastest-growing market), and the upper Midwest (Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin), where hyperscalers recently expanded site selection.[87] Rural communities with limited legal and regulatory resources face the steepest challenges in negotiating with well-funded developers.

The timeline problem: Developers who engage communities after selecting a site and beginning permitting face dramatically worse outcomes than those who initiate dialogue during site evaluation. Projects that received early community engagement and offered binding commitments on water, noise, and employment faced lower cancellation rates, while projects announced without prior consultation triggered the strongest backlash.[88]

Implications for infrastructure deployment

The community opposition movement fundamentally changes the risk calculus for data center site selection, permitting, and construction. Developers, operators, and infrastructure partners must adapt or face escalating costs and delays.

Introl's experience across 257 global locations demonstrates that infrastructure deployment succeeds when engineering excellence meets community awareness. The 550 field engineers who have deployed over 40,000 miles of fiber optic infrastructure understand that every project exists within a community context. The technical execution of GPU deployments, liquid cooling systems, and high-density rack configurations matters only if the facility gets built in the first place.

The industry spent decades treating site selection as a real estate and engineering problem. The $64 billion backlash proves that community relations now rank alongside power availability and fiber connectivity as a make-or-break factor in deployment success.

Key takeaways by role

Infrastructure Planners:

• Build community engagement into site selection criteria alongside power, fiber, and water availability
• Budget 18-24 months of additional permitting time in states with active opposition movements
• Evaluate CBA frameworks as a standard component of project proposals
• Monitor state-level moratorium legislation; New York's S.9144 could establish a template for other states
• Prioritize sites in industrial zones with existing heavy infrastructure to minimize residential proximity conflicts

Operations Teams:

• Implement continuous noise monitoring at facility boundaries, not just during commissioning
• Document and publish water usage data proactively; opacity fuels opposition
• Establish community liaison roles separate from government affairs functions
• Prepare detailed operational employment data, including contractor positions, to address the "150 permanent jobs" critique
• Design facilities with community-facing infrastructure improvements (road upgrades, utility enhancements, broadband)

Strategic Decision-Makers:

• Treat community opposition risk as a financial variable in project modeling, not an afterthought
• The $64 billion in blocked/delayed projects exceeds many companies' total capital budgets
• Diversify site selection across states with established data center regulatory frameworks
• Engage state and local officials before announcing projects; the Warrenton wipeout and Cascade Locks recall demonstrate the political toxicity of surprise announcements
• Evaluate community benefit agreements as investment, not concession; the Lancaster CBA model suggests $20 million in community commitments can unlock billions in project value

What comes next

The trajectory points toward increased regulation, not decreased opposition. New York's three-year moratorium proposal, Michigan's 19-community moratorium wave, and Georgia's bipartisan legislative response signal that data center permitting will grow more complex before stabilizing. Senator Sanders' national moratorium call and the 230-organization coalition letter to Congress demonstrate that the movement has reached federal attention.

The industry's best path forward runs through the communities where facilities will operate. Developers who treat community engagement as a strategic investment, fund binding commitments through CBAs, and design facilities that address water, noise, and rate concerns will navigate the backlash. Those who rely on tax incentives, behind-closed-doors negotiations, and legal challenges to override local opposition will add to the $64 billion tally.

The data center buildout requires community consent. The communities have made their price clear. The question for the industry is whether paying that price costs less than the alternative.

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References

[1] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[2] Data Center Watch. "Data Center Watch Report Q2 2025 Update." Data Center Watch, Q2 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/q22025

[3] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[4] Heatmap News. "Scoop: Local Opposition to Data Centers Is Surging. So Are Canceled Projects." Heatmap News, 2025. https://heatmap.news/politics/data-center-cancellations-2025

[5] Data Center Dynamics. "Group Claims $64bn in US Data Center Projects Impacted by Local Opposition in Last Two Years." DCD News, 2025. https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/group-claims-64bn-in-us-data-center-projects-impacted-by-local-opposition-in-last-two-years/

[6] Gizmodo. "Data Center Project Cancellations Quadrupled in 2025 as Locals Fight Back." Gizmodo, 2025. https://gizmodo.com/data-center-project-cancellations-quadrupled-in-2025-as-locals-fight-back-2000709669

[7] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[8] Stateline. "With Electricity Bills Rising, Some States Consider New Data Center Laws." Stateline, February 5, 2026. https://stateline.org/2026/02/05/with-electricity-bills-rising-some-states-consider-new-data-center-laws/

[9] DLA Piper. "New York Proposes Moratorium on Data Center Permits." DLA Piper Insights, February 2026. https://www.dlapiper.com/en/insights/publications/2026/02/new-york-proposes-moratorium-on-data-center-permits

[10] Georgia Recorder. "Outrage Over Surge of Data Centers in Georgia Inspires Wave of Bipartisan Bills." Georgia Recorder, January 20, 2026. https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/01/20/outrage-over-surge-of-data-centers-in-georgia-inspires-wave-of-bipartisan-bills/

[11] Bridge Michigan. "Data Center Moratoriums Pile Up in Michigan. No One Knows If They'll Work." Bridge Michigan, February 9, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/at-least-19-michigan-towns-pause-data-centers-no-one-knows-if-itll-work/

[12] WRAL. "Chatham County Approves 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers, Crypto Mining." WRAL, February 2026. https://www.wral.com/news/local/chatham-county-approves-12-month-ban-data-centers-crypto-mining-february-2026/

[13] Fox Carolina. "'Threat to Our Community:' Canton Halts Data Center Construction with One-Year Moratorium." Fox Carolina, February 12, 2026. https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/02/12/threat-our-community-canton-halts-data-center-construction-with-one-year-moratorium/

[14] MultiState. "State Data Center Legislation Faces Local Zoning Battles." MultiState Insider, January 15, 2026. https://www.multistate.us/insider/2026/1/15/state-data-center-legislation-faces-local-zoning-battles

[15] Circleville Herald. "Muhlenberg Trustees Pass 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers." Circleville Herald, 2025. https://www.circlevilleherald.com/community/muhlenberg-trustees-pass-12-month-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_1669c51d-3606-432b-b2c5-633b7e5a25fb.html

[16] 13abc. "Archbold Council Considers Data Center Moratorium Amid Community Concerns." 13abc, February 16, 2026. https://www.13abc.com/2026/02/16/archbold-council-considers-data-center-moratorium-amid-community-concerns/

[17] TechPolicy.Press. "The Real Race for an AI Moratorium: Stopping Data Centers." TechPolicy.Press, 2025. https://www.techpolicy.press/the-real-race-for-an-ai-moratorium-stopping-data-centers/

[18] American Prospect. "Demands for Data Center Moratoriums Surge." American Prospect, December 22, 2025. https://prospect.org/2025/12/22/demands-for-data-center-moratoriums-surge/

[19] American Prospect. "Demands for Data Center Moratoriums Surge." American Prospect, December 22, 2025. https://prospect.org/2025/12/22/demands-for-data-center-moratoriums-surge/

[20] American Prospect. "Demands for Data Center Moratoriums Surge." American Prospect, December 22, 2025. https://prospect.org/2025/12/22/demands-for-data-center-moratoriums-surge/

[21] Texas Tribune. "A Texas County Rejects Moratorium on Data Center Development." Texas Tribune, February 10, 2026. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/10/texas-hood-county-rejects-data-center-development-pause-ai/

[22] Seehafer News. "Manitowoc County Towns Pass Resolution Pausing Data Center Development." Seehafer News, February 16, 2026. https://www.seehafernews.com/2026/02/16/manitowoc-county-towns-pass-resolution-pausing-data-center-development/

[23] New York State Senate. "Senate Bill S9144." NY Senate, 2026. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9144

[24] Nixon Peabody. "New York State Proposes Sweeping Data Center Moratorium and Regulatory Review (S9144)." Nixon Peabody Alerts, February 11, 2026. https://www.nixonpeabody.com/insights/alerts/2026/02/11/new-york-state-proposes-sweeping-data-center-moratorium-and-regulatory-review-s9144

[25] TechCrunch. "New York Lawmakers Propose a 3-Year Pause on New Data Centers." TechCrunch, February 7, 2026. https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/07/new-york-lawmakers-propose-a-three-year-pause-on-new-data-centers/

[26] Food & Water Watch. "NY Legislators Introduce Strongest Data Center Moratorium Bill in the Country." Food & Water Watch, February 6, 2026. https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/02/06/ny-legislators-introduce-strongest-data-center-moratorium-bill-in-the-country/

[27] Bridge Michigan. "Data Center Moratoriums Pile Up in Michigan. No One Knows If They'll Work." Bridge Michigan, February 9, 2026. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/at-least-19-michigan-towns-pause-data-centers-no-one-knows-if-itll-work/

[28] WCMU Public Radio. "Leonard Calls for One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers in Michigan." WCMU, February 6, 2026. https://radio.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2026-02-06/leonard-calls-for-one-year-moratorium-on-data-centers-in-michigan

[29] Michigan Advance. "Michigan Sierra Club Presents Petition Calling for Moratorium on Data Centers." Michigan Advance, February 6, 2026. https://michiganadvance.com/2026/02/06/michigan-sierra-club-presents-petition-calling-for-moratorium-on-data-centers/

[30] GPB. "A 'Wave' of Data Center Ordinances Sweep Through GA Counties. How Strict Are They?" Georgia Public Broadcasting, October 22, 2025. https://www.gpb.org/news/2025/10/22/wave-of-data-center-ordinances-sweep-through-ga-counties-how-strict-are-they

[31] Clayton County, Georgia. "Clayton County Board of Commissioners Approves Moratorium on New Data Centers in Clayton County." Clayton County Government, 2025. https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/news/clayton-county-board-of-commissioners-approves-moratorium-on-new-data-centers-in-clayton-county/

[32] Georgia Recorder. "Outrage Over Surge of Data Centers in Georgia Inspires Wave of Bipartisan Bills." Georgia Recorder, January 20, 2026. https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/01/20/outrage-over-surge-of-data-centers-in-georgia-inspires-wave-of-bipartisan-bills/

[33] E&E News by Politico. "With Data Center Fights 'Tearing Apart Towns,' Virginians Cast Ballots." E&E News, 2024. https://www.eenews.net/articles/with-data-center-fights-tearing-apart-towns-virginians-cast-ballots/

[34] Fauquier.com. "Warrenton Town Council to Take on Data Centers in 2025." Fauquier.com, 2024. https://www.fauquier.com/news/town-council-to-take-on-data-centers-in-2025/article_cca00ef4-abde-11ef-ae1f-d7cfb4a4628b.html

[35] FauquierNow. "Warrenton Town Council Pushes Back Against Data Centers, Amends Zoning Ordinance." FauquierNow, 2025. https://www.fauquiernow.com/news/warrenton-town-council-pushes-back-against-data-centers-amends-zoning-ordinance/article_67ce814a-e880-4c95-8099-bac067988a25.html

[36] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[37] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[38] WPR. "Data Center Opponents Launch Recall of Port Washington Mayor." Wisconsin Public Radio, February 2026. https://www.wpr.org/news/data-center-opponents-launch-recall-of-port-washington-mayor

[39] WTMJ. "Attempt to Recall Port Washington Mayor by Anti-Data Center Group Fails, According to City." WTMJ, February 17, 2026. https://wtmj.com/news/2026/02/17/attempt-to-recall-port-washington-mayor-by-anti-data-center-group-fails-according-to-city/

[40] Urban Milwaukee. "Community Group Files Suit Against Port Washington's Data Center." Urban Milwaukee, February 14, 2026. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2026/02/14/community-group-files-suit-against-port-washingtons-data-center/

[41] BizTimes. "Groundbreaking Held as Construction Begins on $15 Billion Port Washington Data Center." BizTimes, 2026. https://biztimes.com/groundbreaking-held-as-construction-begins-on-15b-port-washington-data-center/

[42] St. Louis Public Radio. "St. Louis Residents Say 'No' to Data Centers at First Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Rules." STLPR, February 12, 2026. https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-02-12/st-louis-residents-say-no-data-centers-public-hearing-zoning

[43] St. Louis Public Radio. "St. Louis Residents Say 'No' to Data Centers at First Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Rules." STLPR, February 12, 2026. https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-02-12/st-louis-residents-say-no-data-centers-public-hearing-zoning

[44] St. Louis Public Radio. "Long-Awaited Rules Would Limit Where Data Centers Are Built in St. Louis as Public Pushback Grows." STLPR, February 5, 2026. https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-02-05/long-awaited-rules-limit-data-centers-built-st-louis

[45] St. Louis Public Radio. "St. Louis Aldermen Deny Pause on Data Centers as Developers Ready New Project Applications." STLPR, February 13, 2026. https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-02-13/st-louis-aldermen-deny-pause-data-centers-developers-new-project-applications

[46] The Hill. "Bipartisan Local Backlash to Data Centers Halts $64B in Development: Study." The Hill, 2025. https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5605667-data-center-criticism-study/

[47] FauquierNow. "The Latest on the Digital Gateway Ruling in Prince William." FauquierNow, 2026. https://www.fauquiernow.com/news/business/did-the-world-s-largest-data-center-campus-just-get-canceled-the-answer-is-complicated/article_c9f889a6-26f4-4b00-bd60-fdad027d5699.html

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[55] Nevada Current. "Data Center Water/Power Needs, Regulatory Challenges Strain Rural Communities." Nevada Current, February 9, 2026. https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/02/09/data-center-water-power-needs-regulatory-challenges-strain-rural-communities/

[56] WHYY. "Proposed Delaware City Data Center Could Use Between 10 to 20 Million Gallons of Water a Year." WHYY, 2026. https://whyy.org/articles/data-centers-water-usage/

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[60] Stateline. "With Electricity Bills Rising, Some States Consider New Data Center Laws." Stateline, February 5, 2026. https://stateline.org/2026/02/05/with-electricity-bills-rising-some-states-consider-new-data-center-laws/

[61] Georgia Recorder. "Outrage Over Surge of Data Centers in Georgia Inspires Wave of Bipartisan Bills." Georgia Recorder, January 20, 2026. https://georgiarecorder.com/2026/01/20/outrage-over-surge-of-data-centers-in-georgia-inspires-wave-of-bipartisan-bills/

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[64] Gradient Corp. "Environmental and Community Impacts of Large Data Centers." Gradient, 2025. https://gradientcorp.com/trend_articles/impacts-of-large-data-centers/

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[67] FXBG Advance. "Digital Insights: Home Values and Proximity to Data Centers." FXBG Advance, 2025. https://www.fxbgadvance.com/p/digital-insights-home-values-and

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[71] Brookings Institution. "The Future of Data Centers." Brookings, 2026. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-future-of-data-centers/

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[79] Tallahassee Reports. "Data Center Power, Water Usage Discussed." Tallahassee Reports, February 4, 2026. https://tallahasseereports.com/2026/02/04/data-center-power-water-usage-discussed/

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[81] Brookings Institution. "Why Community Benefit Agreements Are Necessary for Data Centers." Brookings, 2025. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-community-benefit-agreements-are-necessary-for-data-centers/

[82] Lancaster Online. "Here's What a Data Center Community Benefits Agreement Could Include for Lancaster City." Lancaster Online, 2025. https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/heres-what-a-data-center-community-benefits-agreement-could-include-for-lancaster-city/article_02064716-82f8-4dc8-9b98-907c29027c49.html

[83] City of Lancaster. "Lancaster CBA Draft." City of Lancaster, November 2025. https://www.cityoflancasterpa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lancaster-CBA-Draft.pdf

[84] Good Jobs First. "Community Benefit Agreements with Data Centers Can Help Mitigate Harms." Good Jobs First, 2025. https://goodjobsfirst.org/community-benefit-agreements-with-data-centers-can-help-mitigate-harms/

[85] NCRC. "The Local Costs of the AI Boom: Ensuring Data Centers Deliver Community Benefits in the Midst of Hypergrowth." NCRC, 2025. https://ncrc.org/the-local-costs-of-the-ai-boom-ensuring-data-centers-deliver-community-benefits-in-the-midst-of-hypergrowth/

[86] Data Center Watch. "$64 Billion of Data Center Projects Have Been Blocked or Delayed Amid Local Opposition." Data Center Watch Report, May 2025. https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report

[87] Commercial Observer. "Data Center Opposition Has Scrambled the Calculations." Commercial Observer, February 2026. https://commercialobserver.com/2026/02/opposition-data-centers-real-estate-reasons/

[88] Brookings Institution. "Why Community Benefit Agreements Are Necessary for Data Centers." Brookings, 2025. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-community-benefit-agreements-are-necessary-for-data-centers/