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Data Centers

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey | Photo: West Virginia Office of the Governor.

Infrastructure

West Virginia Wants To Use Data Centers To Eliminate Its Income Tax

The state's plan to attract large infrastructure projects is full of administrative hurdles and concedes many of the bad arguments made by NIMBY critics.

Tosin Akintola | 8.17.2026 5:25 PM

Texas governor Greg Abbott in front of a torn picture of a data center | Photo: Elvis Martinez-Cartagena/TNS/Newscom. Snehitdesign/Dreamstime. Illustration: Fatima Ruiz

Texas

Greg Abbott Once Called Texas the 'Epicenter' of AI. Now He's Freezing Data Center Construction.

The bipartisan backlash against data centers reaches the Lone Star State.

Jeff Luse | 8.4.2026 3:21 PM

Data centers and animals | Midjourney

Eminent Domain

Nashville Considers Using Eminent Domain To Stop a Planned Data Center From Irritating Zoo Animals

The Nashville Zoo says the vibrations from next door's planned data center might negatively affect hearing-sensitive animals.

Christian Britschgi | 7.24.2026 4:05 PM

a red, white, and blue depiction of a data center | Midjourney

Technology

Where Can the Data Centers Go?

In a committee hearing yesterday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez complained about data centers' impacts on rural areas and industrial parks.

Christian Britschgi | 7.22.2026 2:45 PM

Kathy Hochul and data centers against a red background | Snehitdesign/Adani Samat/Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom

New York

New York Becomes the First State To Ban New Data Centers

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s one-year moratorium buys time for the state to create a convoluted regulatory regime.

Tosin Akintola | 7.14.2026 6:13 PM

06.04.26-v2 | Credit: Akportfolio24 & Mint_Images/Envato

Energy & Environment

The Best Way To Keep Data Centers From Driving Up Electricity Costs

Don't impose a moratorium. Produce more energy.

Ari Shtein | 6.8.2026 11:15 AM

Construction equipment sitting on a data center construction site | Carlos Kosienski/Sipa USA/Newscom

Artificial Intelligence

Data Center Wars: North Carolina Resists Innovation While Texas Considers Market-Based Rules

As data centers dominate public debate, two states reveal their approach. Texas has taken a stance in line with market needs, while North Carolina reacts to fear and bad press.

Tosin Akintola | 6.5.2026 3:00 PM

Data center | Midjourney

NIMBY

Expect the Data Center Backlash To Get Worse

Despite their limited negative externalities and extreme economic importance, people's hatred of data centers is only growing.

Christian Britschgi | 5.7.2026 4:10 PM

John Stossel holds a phone with a data center as a backdrop | Stossel TV

Artificial Intelligence

The War on Data Centers Is Here—and It Doesn't Add Up

So far, electricity prices haven't risen. If and when they do, the solution is more power generation.

John Stossel | 5.6.2026 2:20 PM

Illustration of the state of Maine next to a crossed-out server rack | Credit: Envato

Artificial Intelligence

Maine Bill Proves States Are Capable of Adopting Bad Data Center Policies Without Federal Intervention

A week after Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to pause AI data center construction indefinitely, Maine is poised to institute the first statewide ban.

Jack Nicastro | 4.3.2026 1:25 PM

Illustration featuring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders | Richard Swafford/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom/Midjourney

Artificial Intelligence

AI Relies on Data Centers. Bernie Sanders and AOC Want To Freeze Their Construction.

This heavy-handed legislation would harm Americans, not protect them.

Jack Nicastro | 3.26.2026 10:35 AM

A server connected to tubing against a pink background | Midjourney

Water

The Data Center Water Panic Has a Better Answer: Water Markets

When water rights are secure and transferable, new demands can be met without harming existing users.

Shawn Regan | 3.24.2026 9:54 AM

An illustration of data center servers in a dream-like environment with clouds and colorful tints | Illustration: Midjourney

Artificial Intelligence

The Joys of Data Centers: Debunking the Backlash Against the $7 Trillion AI Building Boom

Contrary to the claims of the not-in-my-backyard technophobes, all this growth comes with minimal environmental downsides.

Christian Britschgi | 3.7.2026 6:00 AM

Donald Trump at State of the Union address | CNP/AdMedia/SIPA/Newscom

Artificial Intelligence

Trump Says Tech Companies Should Build Their Own Power Plants for AI Data Centers

The plan recognizes that public opinion is what's holding data centers back the most.

Jeff Luse | 2.24.2026 11:28 PM

Against a dark blue background with binary code in it stand three nuclear cooling towers with water vapor coming out of them—the nuclear power plant stands up in a hilly green landscape. | Illustration: Midjourney

Nuclear Power

Next-Generation Nuclear Power Can Meet Data Center Energy Demand—If Regulations Allow It

Is this small modular nuclear power’s moment?

Ed Tarnowski | 2.3.2026 4:40 PM

data center | Meta

Zoning

The Great Zoning Crackdown on Data Centers

Plus: The Trump administration wants to roll back "disparate impact" regulations, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to roll back environmental review regulations, and L.A. waives fees for wildfire rebuilds.

Christian Britschgi | 1.20.2026 3:10 PM

Sen. Tom Cotton (R–Ark.) and a row of data servers. | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Michael Vadon | Midjourney

Electricity

Data Centers Use Lots of Electricity. This Bill Would Let Them Go Off the Grid.

The DATA Act, introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton, would exempt electrical utilities from federal regulation if they don't touch the electrical grid.

Joe Lancaster | 1.12.2026 11:20 AM

An illustration of politicians and a data center | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Nano Banana

Artificial Intelligence

The Data Center Price Myth

Rising electricity prices are being pinned on data centers, but demand isn’t what makes power expensive.

Marc Oestreich | 12.23.2025 4:00 PM

Bernie Sanders | RICHARD ELLIS/UPI/Newscom

Artificial Intelligence

Bernie Sanders Wants To Pause New Data Centers To Stop the Economy From Growing Too Much

The socialist senator wants a moratorium on new data centers to slow the AI and robotics industries down.

Christian Britschgi | 12.17.2025 4:50 PM

Aerial view of a data center under construction. | ID 348250050 ©  Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

Subsidies

The New Stadium Scam Is a Server Farm

Local governments love giving sweetheart deals to billion-dollar companies—now data centers instead of football stadiums.

Marc Oestreich | 5.6.2025 11:45 AM

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