--- title: "US politicians push back against data centers amid backlash" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-politicians-push-back-against-data-centers-amid-backlash" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-politicians-push-back-against-data-centers-amid-backlash" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-politicians-push-back-against-data-centers-amid-backlash.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-politicians-push-back-against-data-centers-amid-backlash" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-25T18:45:56.673Z" source_reported: "2026-08-25T11:20:18.000Z" updated: "2026-08-25T18:45:56.673Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-25T18:30:36.054413+00:00" --- # US politicians push back against data centers amid backlash *Concerns over power grids, water, and environment fuel opposition from across the political spectrum.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for industry reaction. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes affected parties and names specific figures, but lacks detail on what happens next. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a significant impact on elections, but the body focuses on political positioning. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A backlash against data center construction is growing across the US, driven by concerns over electricity grids, water supplies, and environmental impact. - Political leaders from both sides of the aisle, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, are opposing new data center projects. - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order requiring local community approval for data center permits. - Eight states have rolled back data center tax subsidies in 2026, with 17 others considering similar measures. A backlash against data center projects is intensifying across the United States, fuelled by concerns about their strain on electricity grids, water resources, and the environment. This opposition is becoming a significant factor in political campaigns, particularly as companies rapidly build infrastructure to support artificial intelligence expansion. Political figures from across the spectrum have voiced opposition. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has paused approvals for new data center construction pending audits of projects' tax breaks, ownership, and proposed water use. In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers has supported a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order mandating local community approval for data center permits, a shift from his state's previous positioning as a data center hub. ## Disagreement on the influence of data centers on elections The American Bazaar reported that the backlash is intensifying as companies race to build infrastructure for AI expansion. USA Today stated that the bipartisan backlash is scrambling midterm elections. However, explorejeffersonpa.com, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and statecollege.com focused their reporting on Pennsylvania, stating that data centers are redefining midterm races across the state, with candidates making data center criticism central to their campaigns. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports printed below mention Republican Mike Rogers' support for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in Michigan. The American Bazaar reported this detail, but it was not included in the digests from the other outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 33% (2) - Centre: 67% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-25T18:30:36.054413+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-25T19:00:35.563Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The American Bazaar and USA Today reports highlighted the bipartisan nature of the backlash against data centers. The American Bazaar quoted an AI company representative who suggested that public anger over wealth inequality could fuel opposition to data centers. Both outlets noted that states are increasingly rolling back tax subsidies for data centers, with eight states enacting such legislation in 2026 and 17 others considering it. The American Bazaar also mentioned Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's statement that he would not allow "Pennsylvanians to be bullied by greedy developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies." ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from explorejeffersonpa.com, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and statecollege.com focused on the impact of data center criticism on midterm elections in Pennsylvania. They noted that candidates in at least 20 competitive legislative races are taking stances on data centers, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has adopted a tougher position. These reports indicated that there are over 120 proposed data centers across Pennsylvania, leading to significant community backlash. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 3 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [explorejeffersonpa.com](https://explorejeffersonpa.com/politics/2026/08/25/data-centers-are-redefining-midterm-races-across-pennsylvania-179864) — Data Centers are ‘Redefining’ Midterm Races Across Pennsylvania - [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](https://post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2026/08/25/pennsylvania-data-centers-election/stories/202608250010) — Data centers are ‘redefining’ midterm races across Pennsylvania - [statecollege.com](https://statecollege.com/articles/elections/data-centers-are-redefining-midterm-races-across-pennsylvania) — Data Centers Are ‘Redefining’ Midterm Races Across Pennsylvania - [USA Today](https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/24/data-centers-trump-midterm-elections/91442283007) — Americans' backlash to data centers is scrambling midterm elections - [The American Bazaar](https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/08/24/data-centers-face-increasing-scrutiny-and-backlash-486929) — Data centers face increasing scrutiny and backlash from political leaders - [LancasterOnline](https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/data-centers-are-redefining-midterm-races-across-pennsylvania/article_69463ca3-9fcd-41ec-acf4-b66bd1002e55.html) — Data centers are ‘redefining’ midterm races across Pennsylvania - [The Standard-Journal](https://standard-journal.com/news/local/data-centers-redefining-midterm-races/article_5da359f6-191f-4894-bb97-f73d7a29a876.html) — Data centers redefining midterm races ## Questions **Why are people pushing back against data centers?** There is a growing backlash against data center projects across the U.S. due to concerns about their impact on electricity grids, water supplies, and the environment. This opposition has intensified as companies build infrastructure for the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. **Which political leaders are opposing data centers?** Political leaders from across the spectrum are pushing back. This includes Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has paused approvals, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who signed an executive order requiring local community approval for data center permits. **What action has been taken regarding data center tax subsidies?** Eight states enacted legislation rolling back data center tax subsidies in 2026, and 17 other states are considering similar legislation. This indicates a trend of reducing financial incentives for data center development. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-politicians-push-back-against-data-centers-amid-backlash. 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