Opposition to artificial intelligence data centers has become a prominent issue ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with communities raising concerns about electricity costs, environmental risks, and local decision-making. The issue dominated discussions at a political event in Brooklyn on October 29, where speakers examined the effects of expanding AI infrastructure on residents and workers.
The event, called Midterm Mania, was organized by Newsreel, a media company founded by former Forbes and Newsweek journalist Jack Brewster. Its official event program featured politicians, technology executives, journalists, and policy advocates discussing the elections, AI development, and the economic implications of data centers.
Nearly $200 Billion in Data Center Projects Face Delays
According to Data Center Watch, approximately $198 billion in proposed data center projects were delayed or blocked during the first half of 2026 due to local opposition. The organization identified roughly $130 billion in affected projects during the first quarter and another $68 billion in the second quarter.
States including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, New York, and Virginia have considered additional regulations governing data center construction, environmental impacts, and infrastructure costs. Virginia, which already hosts a substantial concentration of data centers, has hundreds of additional facilities planned.
Brooklyn Panel Raises Concerns About Environmental Risks
During the Brooklyn event, technology and human rights researcher Maia Woluchem and environmental advocate Hilary Flint discussed the effects of data center construction on nearby communities. Participants raised concerns about electricity demand, pollution, zoning regulations, and agreements between technology companies and local governments.
Flint questioned whether financial incentives and temporary employment opportunities adequately compensated communities for potential environmental and health risks. Attendees also criticized arrangements that they said provided insufficient public notice or opportunities for residents to influence development decisions.
New York City Council member Chi Ossé separately called for greater accountability among technology executives. He argued that company leaders making claims about potentially serious AI risks should face congressional scrutiny.
Data Center Employment Benefits Draw Mixed Responses
A subsequent panel featuring NewsNation host Batya Ungar-Sargon, political strategist Morris Katz, and Vox journalist Astead Herndon examined competing views about the economic benefits of data centers. Ungar-Sargon noted that some labor unions support construction projects because they create employment opportunities.
Herndon emphasized concerns about whether communities had meaningful input before projects received approval, including in Republican-leaning areas. Katz questioned whether technology companies would provide lasting employment benefits, while other speakers acknowledged the temporary nature of many construction jobs.
Brewster said AI and data centers appeared in discussions throughout the event and ranked as the second most common topic among questions submitted by attendees before the gathering.
The debate also extended beyond New York, with one attendee describing opposition in a Southern California community where residents displayed multilingual signs protesting nearby data center development.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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