‘A Deal with the Devil’: Religion Motivates Data Center Opponents in Texas

‘A deal with the devil’: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas

(RNS) — Some see the facilities’ construction as a sign of the apocalypse, while others see it as an opportunity to advocate for environmental stewardship.

The Data Center Backlash Is Splitting MAGA

Every few days, I think the data center backlash has reached its apex — surely it can’t become an even bigger issue in American politics. Then it surprises me again. On Monday evening, the reaction got as close to President Donald Trump as it’s ever come, when six protesters interrupted his speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan to oppose the computing facilities. Although they were drowned out by the pro-Trump crowd, a new Fox News pol…

In Texas, a bipartisan backlash builds as AI data centers spread into rural counties

New AI data centers are emerging as a flashpoint in rural Texas politics, with conservatives and liberals alike saying communities are being asked to absorb major projects before they have had an opportunity to fully express their concerns. That anger recently surfaced at a crowded hotel gathering in Bastrop. What's happening? According to the Austin American-Statesman, the meeting brought together residents, local officials, and state politicia…

Jockeying for Control of AI Data Centers

The County Commission of Box Elder, Utah, voted unanimously to advance the construction of a 40,000 acre, “hyperscale” data center—more than twice the size of Manhattan—despite local protests. Officials cited both economic and national security benefits of the project as justifications. Across the United States, lawmakers are confronting questions about the benefits and harms of data centers—facilities that provide the enormous computing power n…