Data Center Debate Heats Up as Politicians Pivot and China Is Cast as the Villain

Recent polling indicates that opposition to new data center projects has surged dramatically. As many as 75 percent of Americans now say they would oppose a data center being built in their area, up from 42 percent a year earlier. The shift reflects growing community concerns about the visual, environmental, and energy impacts of these facilities.

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The swelling anti-data-center sentiment is prompting a noticeable change among elected officials who previously championed the industry. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—both previously vocal supporters—are now emphasizing a tougher stance on data center siting as the 2024 midterm elections approach. Their repositioning aligns with broader bipartisan caution, even as President Donald Trump continues to endorse data center construction.

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In late August, the social-media platform X reported that it had identified 200 accounts linked to China that were actively disseminating anti-data-center messaging. The narrative positions China as a covert agitator behind the domestic backlash.

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Meanwhile, data-center advocates and industry commentators have framed the X report as evidence of foreign interference aimed at undermining U.S. technological infrastructure.

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The discussion will continue in WIRED’s first livestream on data centers, scheduled for September 10. The program will feature senior writer Molly Taft, senior politics correspondent Hugo Lowell, and senior business writer Max Zeff, who will field audience questions and explore the evolving political and geopolitical dimensions of the data-center debate.

Wired Magazine