Data Center Expansion Continues to be an Issue for Constituents Regarding Water Supply, Pollution, Noise
The rapid growth of AI data centers became a major talking point in the 2026 midterm elections. Across the country, candidates faced growing questions about the costs of new development, including rising energy bills, water consumption and environmental impacts.
From statewide races to local ballot measures, opposition to data centers emerged as a common thread in communities attempting to navigate the industry’s growing demand for electricity and land.
In North Carolina and across the country, the debate has increasingly centered on a few key questions for elected officials: Who should bear the costs of the infrastructure powering the artificial intelligence boom? How will data centers be regulated, and how will those regulations be enforced? And what will their development mean for local communities, particularly as these facilities are often proposed near low-income communities and communities of color?
Voters voiced their concerns at the ballot box
The major concerns regarding data centers include their widespread water usage, noise pollution, increased energy demands that could raise electricity costs, and potential environmental and public health impacts on surrounding communities.
Last Tuesday, these concerns appeared at the ballot box.
According to Stateline’s analysis of local election results, at least 33 ballot measures restricting data center development had passed or were leading in vote counts late Tuesday. The measures included temporary construction moratoriums, outright prohibitions, limits on energy use and requirements for voter approval before projects could move forward.
An Associated Press analysis of the election found that restrictions passed in 44 of 45 local referendum elections with completed results across 12 states.
Key issue in political campaigns
The topic also became a prominent part of campaign messaging. According to AdImpact data cited by the AP, campaigns spent more than $380 million on television advertisements mentioning data centers, with Democrats outspending Republicans by more than three to one.
Data Center Watch, a project of AI security consultancy 10a Labs, found that 32 of the 34 gubernatorial candidates who won races called by the Associated Press supported stronger data center regulations or restrictions. Of those, 12 backed outright bans or moratoriums on new development.
Affordability and the environment
Although climate change was not necessarily a defining campaign message in every midterm race, the data center debate has illustrated how environmental issues can become more politically visible when connected to household expenses or when climate issues are brought to someone’s backyard.
In North Carolina, rising electricity demand from data centers has led to questions about who will pay for the infrastructure needed to support their growth.
Moreover, the question of who ultimately pays for that expansion has become a particularly contentious issue for residents already facing rising utility bills under energy giant Duke Energy.
On Wednesday, the League of Conservation Voters, Climate Power, EDF Action and the NRDC Action Fund held a post-election virtual press conference to discuss how energy costs, gas prices, and polluting data centers shaped voter decisions.
The groups discussed the election results and what they could mean for newly elected officials at the federal, state and local levels, and have outlined what to keep watch for as they plan to hold their elected officials accountable for their campaign promises.
Strain on natural resources
For data center opponents, the economic and environmental questions are closely connected. Large facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to operate and water for cooling, while the construction of new energy infrastructure can raise questions about utility costs, emissions and the long-term effects on nearby communities.
Durham is currently facing significant water shortages amid ongoing drought conditions, with the city reporting just 79 days of easily accessible water supply remaining as of November 5. Durham County commissioners approved a nine-month moratorium on new large-scale data centers, lasting until May 2027.
However, the situation demonstrates concerns over how already-strained natural resources could be further depleted by large-scale data center development, particularly in communities facing increasing water scarcity.
Data center development will continue to be an issue
As data center developers continue pursuing projects across North Carolina, local governments are increasingly being asked to balance economic development opportunities against residents’ concerns about electricity, water, pollution and land use.
The midterm elections suggest that concerns over data center development are becoming harder for candidates to ignore as opposition grows across party lines. Additionally, candidates who fail to address constituents’ concerns could face political consequences, potentially hurting their campaigns and public favorability.
For newly elected officials, the challenge now will be translating campaign promises into policies that address residents’ concerns surrounding data center expansion.
What can you do to help?
Now that midterm elections have wrapped, NCLCV-endorsed candidates will now begin their work for a better, cleaner future for North Carolina. If issues such as data centers are a concern of yours, please consider becoming a recurring donor.
Thank you for being a part of the conservation voters movement. We look forward to working with you to bring a brighter, cleaner future for all North Carolinians.