Local opposition blocked or delayed 45 US data center projects worth $68 billion between April and June, according to research group Data Center Watch. Some 30 statehouses introduced or adopted measures covering siting, electricity, and water issues. Active opposition groups now number 843 across 49 states, with a Tennessee petition drawing more than 500,000 signatures on Change.org. This pressure is crossing borders, with campaigns surfacing in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. The backlash has turned Bitcoin miners into unlikely landlords, as their already-permitted power sites are among the few places where an AI developer can plug in without waiting years for a grid connection.
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