A wave of grassroots resistance is sweeping across the United States as local communities challenge the rapid expansion of data centers. Recent reports indicate a significant surge in opposition, with residents raising concerns about water consumption, electricity usage, and economic impacts.

In Georgia, where data center development has been booming, political candidates like Peter Hubbard are hearing constituents’ frustrations firsthand. The top concerns include how these massive facilities consume local resources without providing proportional economic benefits. A report from Data Center Watch reveals that between March and June of 2025, community opposition blocked or delayed nearly $98 billion in data center projects.

The resistance is notably bipartisan, with both Democratic and Republican politicians speaking out. In Virginia, state delegate Josh Thomas successfully challenged a proposed data center project near a national reserve, demonstrating that local communities can effectively push back against tech industry expansion.

Financial considerations are driving much of this opposition. Residents are increasingly worried about rising electricity bills and the strain data centers place on local infrastructure. Some politicians, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, have explicitly called on communities to scrutinize data center approvals and protect their water and energy resources.

While tech companies argue that data centers provide significant economic benefits, including job creation and tax revenue, local sentiment appears to be shifting. The Data Center Watch report suggests that community organization against these projects is becoming more likely, signaling a potential turning point in how technological infrastructure is developed.

Tech giants like Meta continue to invest heavily in data center infrastructure, with plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years. However, the growing local resistance suggests that future expansions may face increasingly complex regulatory and community challenges.

As the debate continues, one thing is clear: local communities are no longer passive recipients of technological development, but active participants demanding accountability and transparent decision-making.