The Political Hot Potato Heats Up: AI Data Centers
In this follow-up to my previous article “The Political Hot Potato: AI Data Centers,” this hot potato is burning hotter than ever. Around the country, citizens are rising up and defeating AI data center proposals at the local level. According to a recent Gallup poll 70% of Americans oppose the construction of an AI data center in their local area.[1] Big Tech and its supporters, those who receive donations or stand to profit from these projects, are scrambling. The race is on. The greedy tech oligarchs are in it to win it and using various strategies, but the citizens of the United States are not going to roll over. We are in the battle for the long haul. Citizens defeat an AI data center proposal in one county and immediately a new data center proposal pops up in the county next door. We are playing whack a mole.
Elon Musk has proposed placing AI data centers in orbit, powered by abundant solar energy to help address terrestrial power constraints and water consumption issues. [2] [3] Another emerging strategy involves small, modular data center nodes installed on or near homes and in neighborhoods to ease grid strain.[4] The deep state government and tech oligarchs want their surveillance centers installed, and they will do whatever it takes. The battle is multifaceted, playing out at the city, county, state, and federal levels.
The Federal Level Battle:
Peaceful Pushback Labeled Extremism: The Federal Targeting of Anti-Data Center Resistance
Opposition is so widespread that at the federal level, internal U.S. government documents now label anti-data center movements and criticism of AI as potential “anti-technology extremism” worthy of surveillance. This shift comes primarily from federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and regional fusion centers that coordinate with state and local law enforcement. More than 1,000 pages of internal reports obtained via FOIA and reviewed by WIRED show this national approach tying growing public backlash into broader domestic terrorism monitoring.
As resistance has spread to hundreds of community groups across 42 states, peaceful actions such as town hall complaints about noise, water usage, and power demands are being flagged in intelligence bulletins. Even non-violent activities like photographing proposed sites or sharing videos online have drawn attention as possible precursors to threats. Writing this commentary could put me on the list. Critics warn that this broad and vague label risks chilling consequences for ordinary citizens exercising their First Amendment rights, even though actual violence remains extremely rare. [5]
For example, at a city council meeting in Port Washington, Wisconsin, police forcibly removed and arrested Christine Le Jeune and two other women after she continued speaking out against a proposed data center project during public comment.[6] Similar incidents of residents being escorted or removed by police have occurred in multiple states including New Jersey, Illinois, and Oklahoma during heated town hall discussions. [7]
In short, the more popular and effective grassroots resistance becomes, the more federal surveillance resources are being directed to monitor it. Ironically, they are using the very AI data centers that locals oppose to monitor/surveil and store the resistance data.
The State-Level Battle: Preemption Laws and Stealth Permitting
Pro data center advocates are finding devious ways to deceive locals and obtain permits at the state level before communities even know about the proposals or have time to coordinate opposition. State legislatures are increasingly involved through preemption laws that limit or remove local authority over zoning, permitting, and regulation of data centers. [8] Thus, governor races and state legislative races are more important than ever in this issue.
At least eight states have considered bills to curb local control over data centers and AI, according to tracking by the Local Solutions Support Center. The Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) is a national nonprofit organization (part of a network focused on local government issues) that tracks and opposes “abusive preemption” situations where state legislatures pass laws that override or restrict the authority of cities, counties, and other local governments to regulate certain issues. [9]
These often involve “right to compute” model legislation promoted by groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The states include Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and others with related measures. Specific examples of “right to compute” bills (which impose strict limits on local regulation of AI/compute resources, including data centers) have been introduced in New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. Illinois and New Hampshire have seen bills that explicitly preempt local AI/data center regulations, sometimes denying home rule powers. [10]
West Virginia: Enacted a law (HB 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act, and companion measures) that explicitly preempts counties and municipalities from regulating or limiting data centers and related microgrids. These “high-impact data center and microgrid districts” are exempt from local zoning, building, and noise ordinances. Counties lose the right to review or condition projects, and property tax revenues are diverted to state funds instead of local budgets. The goal is to attract development and centralize control at the state level. [11] West Virginia has a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both the state Senate and House.
So-called “nonprofits” are at it again.
ALEC stands for the American Legislative Exchange Council. It is a nonprofit organization that brings together state legislators and private sector representatives (often from industry) to develop and promote model legislation. It is generally described as a conservative or free-market oriented group. However, “conservative” here does not always mean pro-local control. ALEC has endorsed and promoted “Right to Compute Act” model legislation that limits government restrictions on computational resources (including data centers). This approach often favors industry expansion by making it harder for localities to regulate or block projects, aligning more with pro-data center development than with strong local control. Some so-called conservatives support rapid data center growth, which is why we must carefully examine the actual content of bills regardless of labels or who introduces and supports the legislation. [12]
Since I live in Florida, here is an example of good protective legislation by Republicans at the state level that actually strengthens local control rather than preempting it.
Florida’s SB 484, introduced by a Republican majority state legislature and signed into law by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on May 7, 2026, explicitly preserves local governments’ authority over zoning, comprehensive planning, and land development regulations for large-scale data centers (those with significant power demand). Communities can still reject or impose stricter conditions on these projects. It also requires data centers to pay their full costs for electricity infrastructure upgrades, so these expenses are not passed on to residential and small business ratepayers. Water protections are included: Large-scale data centers face restrictions on consumptive water use and are encouraged or required to use reclaimed water when feasible. The law calls for a study on the impacts of these facilities. [13]
This contrasts with the preemption efforts in other states and shows that state action can sometimes protect communities when lawmakers prioritize ratepayers, resources, and local voices over unchecked Big Tech expansion. We must continue holding all levels of government accountable. Local vigilance at the county commissioner, mayor and city council levels combined with principled state leadership remains essential.
Reasons why Gubernatorial Races are important
Which brings me back to the gubernatorial races. The governor has the power to veto pro-data center legislation or sign it into law. Even with a pro-data center state house and state senate, the governor can still stop bad legislation in its tracks or allow it to move forward. Wherever you live, do your homework. Gubernatorial candidates, whether Democrat or Republican, are divided on the issue. Sometimes the Democrat supports data centers and sometimes not, and vice versa for the Republican.
Here are some examples:
In Georgia the race features Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms pushing to pause new builds while Republicans Rick Jackson and Burt Jones with industry ties advocate for data centers. [14]
In Michigan candidates including Democrat Anthony Hudson vow to block projects on farmland while others stress developer funded power. [15]
In Wisconsin multiple contenders emphasize ratepayer and environmental protections amid utility rate hike debates. [16]
In Pennsylvania the race pits Democrat incumbent Josh Shapiro who has promoted billions in tech investments against Republican Stacy Garrity who now calls for a total pause. [17]
In Nevada candidates differ on tax breaks with some like Democrat Alexis Hill seeking restrictions to protect residents. [18]
Do your homework for your state races. I’ve done mine on Florida’s Republican gubernatorial race:
- Byron Donalds strongly supports embracing AI data centers for economic growth and technological leadership, backed by major pro-AI donors.
- Paul Renner calls for an immediate moratorium/halt on new hyperscale AI data centers to protect electric rates, water supplies, and Florida residents.[19]
- James Fishback demands an outright ban on new AI data center construction, citing massive increases in electric bills and water usage. [20] [21]
- Jay Collins advocates strict “Florida Strong” regulations requiring data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs and protect resources, without a full ban. [22]
Can you guess who I am voting for?
Follow the Money and Read Between the Lines: “One-Stop Permit Shop” Is a Fast-Track Giveaway to Big Tech Data Centers
When deciding who to vote for in your state, follow two essential steps. First, follow the money: carefully investigate their donors. Second, read between the lines. The first step will help you truly understand the second.
Across the country, both Republican and Democratic governors are aggressively fast-tracking massive data centers for the AI industry, often at the expense of local communities.
A good example is Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Byron Donalds. He received millions from a pro-AI super PAC called Leading the Future, backed by AI titans like OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz. That money trail makes it crystal clear what his recently unveiled “Florida Means Business” agenda is really about: state level fast tracking permits for AI data centers.
Not the fix we want
Yes, permitting in Florida and around the country has become an expensive, bureaucratic nightmare that drives up costs for real businesses and families and needs to be fixed. But U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’s “Florida Means Business” agenda is not about fixing government red tape for everyday Floridians. It is about bulldozing local opposition to massive AI data centers and handing Big Tech a red carpet. This allows developers to rush projects through before communities even have a chance to speak out, all while our communities are left to pay the price.
More like “Killing the Florida Dream”
Donalds, a leading candidate for governor with 81.1 million in his war chest, unveiled his plan during his “Defending the Florida Dream Tour.” It includes:
- A unified “one-stop permit shop” digital dashboard linking local governments, regional planning entities, and state agencies.
- A public “shot clock” (strict government deadlines that force automatic approval if missed) on major permits for energy, infrastructure, and job-creating projects.
- A Governor’s Task Force to review all state and local permits, licenses, and fees tied to development.
- Accelerated agency review timelines for priority projects in transportation, energy, space, and infrastructure.
- Specialized business court divisions for faster resolution of commercial disputes. [23]
Read between the lines.
This is engineered for speed and secrecy. Data centers/Surveillance centers, those power-hungry, water-guzzling/aquifer draining facilities that drive up electricity rates, strain infrastructure, and often bring more noise, pollution, traffic, and minimal local jobs than promised, are his clear priority. Donalds wants Florida to become the “new Silicon Valley,” and locals revolting against these projects are the obstacle to be steamrolled.
If Byron Donalds is elected governor, he will dismantle the local control protections that Governor DeSantis put in place
AI Data center permits will be fast tracked before locals can even speak out
By centralizing everything in a digital dashboard and imposing shot clocks with accelerated timelines, the plan makes it easier for developers to get approvals before communities even know what is hitting their backyards. Your tax dollars will fund a system designed to override local voices, fast-track corporate projects, and tie up opposition in “business courts” stacked for speed over scrutiny.
This is not pro-business for Florida families. It is pro-Big Tech. And the money trail proves it. A pro-AI super PAC called Leading the Future, backed by AI titans including OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, has pledged 5 million dollars to boost Donalds’ campaign for governor, explicitly to push AI advancement and data center infrastructure in Florida. [24] Donalds wants state power to preempt local resistance using our tax dollars to expedite permits for the very industry that stands to profit. [25]
This mirrors exactly what President Trump has pushed at the federal level. In July 2025, Trump issued an Executive Order on “Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure.” It fast-tracks approvals for AI data centers and related energy projects, eases regulatory burdens, and prioritizes them under programs like FAST-41. Reports indicate the administration has signaled that states slowing down these projects could face funding consequences. [26]
Trump’s EO explicitly promotes rapid buildout of data centers for AI, including on federal lands, with streamlined environmental reviews. Byron Donalds’ state-level plan is the perfect complement: it pre-clears the path so Big Tech doesn’t face ‘rising up’ pushback from locals across Florida. As President Trump’s personal pick for Florida governor, that’s exactly what we’d expect from him.
Bipartisan Giveaway: Abbott and Shapiro Fast-Track Big Tech Data Centers
This approach is spreading across other states:
In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has aggressively courted massive data center investments while relying on existing shot clock laws that automatically approve development permits if local governments miss tight deadlines, clearing the way for Big Tech despite growing resident concerns over grid strain and water use. [27] [28]
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing an Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Act that would impose strict 30-day and 120-day shot clocks on local data center permits, with automatic approval if missed, all while offering incentives to hyperscalers, showing how both parties are willing to override communities to serve the AI industry. [29] [30] [31]
Data Centers: Economic Mirage, Local Nightmare
While promoters tout data centers as engines of economic growth and opportunity, the reality for host communities is far less rosy. These massive facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, driving up utility bills for residents and draining local aquifers. At the same time, they deliver limited, if any, sustained economic benefit to the areas forced to accommodate them.
Construction brings temporary work, but contracts frequently go to out-of-state firms and specialized crews, leaving the much-hyped “local jobs” largely illusory. Once operational, even large data centers employ relatively few permanent workers, often just dozens to a couple hundred, making the promise of broad prosperity a pipe dream.
Future dream job? In actuality, AI is already mopping floors. (image complements of AI)
Worse still, the very AI systems these data centers power are designed to automate and displace middle-class jobs across industries, not create new ones. Lower-class jobs will also be eliminated. Far from boosting local opportunities, they accelerate a future where technology replaces human labor rather than expanding it.
From Florida to the Nation: Stop the Big Tech Fast-Track Before It’s Too Late
Americans deserve real permitting reform that protects neighborhoods, controls costs, and respects local control, not a corporate-friendly machine that uses our own government against us, bankrolled by Silicon Valley interests. Ramming AI Data mega monsters through with shot clocks, one-stop permit shops while ignoring community impacts is wrong.
We need transparency that works both ways, not a dashboard designed to hide projects until it is too late. America’s future should not be auctioned off to Silicon Valley billionaires at the expense of our quality of life, electricity rates, and local democracy.
AI Panopticon: Ellison Confirms Data Centers Will Monitor Every American
According to Larry Ellison of Oracle, the real purpose of these huge AI data centers is mass surveillance of every American. They plan to collect video from millions of cameras, such as police body cams, car dashcams, flock cameras, doorbells, and security cameras, and use AI to watch everything in real time. This creates an Orwellian system where people are constantly watched. Cameras, Cameras Everywhere – See Every Move You Make – Welcome
“Citizens will be on their best behavior, because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on,” – Larry Ellison, Executive Chairman and CTO of Oracle. September 2024
“The instrument (the telescreen, it was called) could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely. … There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment.” — George Orwell, 1984
“Always eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed—no escape. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.” — George Orwell, 1984
Get in the fight for freedom before it is too late
It is time for Americans everywhere to rise up, demand accountability, and reclaim our right to shape our own communities before Big Tech’s unchecked ambitions turn our neighborhoods into Orwellian surveillance server farms and our power bills into Silicon Valley subsidies.