Would you care if a data center is planned near you? This is a controversial issue across the nation. Data Centers are being built or are on the drawing board in both metropolitan and rural communities. Gallup reported in a poll in May showing 71% of Americans would oppose a data center being built in their area. Does this issue present a political opportunity for office seekers in November?
People oppose them because they consume as much electricity as a small city which could cause a shortage or raise utility bills. Water supply in areas with drought concerns is a worry, noise is a problem with cooling fans constantly humming and residents believe the large parcel of land could be put to better used for housing, parks or other businesses. Once construction is completed there are limited local jobs. Environmental concerns are an issue.
Some communities welcome them looking for increased tax revenue, improved infrastructure, technical jobs and technology investment. So, the debate is usually a trade-off between economic benefits versus energy, water, noise and land use.
All this puts’ politics dead center in the debate. A smart candidate or political operative could pick up on this as an issue to organize around, gain electoral support and serve to bring out voters. When an issue like data centers becomes a community problem local, people can be persuaded to look beyond their party affiliation. That is what makes this issue the greatest untapped opportunity for both political parties.
Strong emotions are evoked because they are tangible. Voters can hear, smell and see data centers even if they are only proposed. Data Center applications are approved at a local or state level. Therefore, those running for local & state office are best positioned to influence the decisions.
Data Centers have already become a political issue in is some rural communities in places like West Virginia and cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma, Birmingham, Alabama and New Orleans have recently passed temporary moratoriums and New York passed a statewide pause on large-scale data centers.
If your neighborhood, community or state is about to host a data center the time is now to use your political power…to either support or oppose.