Energy
Data center backlash spreads across states, emerging as 2026 political flashpoint
PN Team • 2 months ago
A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll of 600 likely Michigan voters, conducted by the Glengariff Group, found 64% oppose new data center construction, with only 19% support. Opposition crossed party lines, with strong Democrats most opposed (76%) but every subgroup showing majority disapproval. A 54% majority backed a one-year moratorium, though many opponents want an outright end rather than a pause. Michigan has 70 operational data centers, with more planned.
Similar tensions are playing out elsewhere. In Ohio, the Ohio Business Roundtable launched "Future Ready Ohio" to counter what it calls misinformation about data centers' water and electricity use, while Conserve Ohio has gathered over 130,000 signatures for a ballot measure banning hyperscale facilities. In Greensboro, North Carolina, city council held its first work session under a 180-day moratorium to examine data centers' water and wastewater impacts, with more sessions planned before the pause expires in February. The issue has become politically charged in Senate races: Michigan's Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed both back construction pauses, while Ohio's Sherrod Brown has targeted Sen. Jon Husted, complicating Republican messaging as Trump continues pushing for rapid data center expansion nationally.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Mike Rogers (Michigan politician) Mike Rogers is portrayed as responsive to voter concerns by backing a construction pause, a favorable political positioning.
- Sherrod Brown Sherrod Brown is depicted as strategically leveraging the issue against a rival, a mildly favorable political tactic.
- Democratic Party (United States) Democratic voters shown as most opposed to data centers, a neutral factual detail about party alignment.
- Michigan Michigan is the site of strong public opposition to data centers, a neutral-to-mildly negative civic detail.
- Ohio Ohio faces similar backlash and ballot measures against data centers, a neutral factual mention.
- Republican Party (United States) Republican messaging described as complicated by the data center backlash, a mild tangential negative.
- Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro is mentioned factually as holding hearings on a data center moratorium.
- United States Senate Senate races are mentioned as the venue where the data center issue is politically charged, a neutral factual reference.