Senate candidates split over data centers as voter pressure grows ahead of November midterms

Right · 1Senate candidates are facing growing pressure from voters over the rapid expansion of data centers, according to the Washington Examiner. 1 Right · 1The Examiner sorts candidates into three broad camps: those backing a moratorium on construction, as favoured by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other congressional Democrats; those seeking restrictions such as requiring that data centers not add to others' utility bills; and those who say decisions should be left to local officials. 1 Left · 1Wired, writing on 11 October, says public opinion has turned rapidly against data centers since the start of the year, that the opposition is bipartisan, and that many Republicans are making a rare break from President Donald Trump. 2

Right · 1In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has not proposed a moratorium but has said data centers should cover their energy costs; in April his office began investigating whether data centers raised power bills, and he was one of four Democrats to vote for the Ratepayer Protection Act. Republican Rep. Mike Collins opposes a federal moratorium and says it 'should be a local decision'. 1 Right · 1In North Carolina, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper says communities should have the final say, including on moratoriums, and wants data centers to pay the full cost of the power they use. Republican Michael Whatley, a longtime energy lobbyist, does not support a moratorium or a 'blanket no', backs expansion to win the AI race against China, and says data centers should pay their own way. Each campaign attacks the other: Cooper's spokesperson says Whatley secretly consulted for a data center company, while Whatley's spokesman says Cooper stuck families with a 30 percent rate hike. 1 Right · 1In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola has not proposed a ban and says she takes her cue from affected communities, while Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan opposes bans and has petitioned to bring data centers onto military installations. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek opposes a blanket moratorium but wants federal regulation, while Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson opposes a ban and favours local decisions with guardrails. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson supports temporary bans on construction and says he would have signed the statewide ban Gov. Janet Mills vetoed. 1

Right · 1On federal policy, the Examiner reports that the House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require states to consider standards making new data centers cover the costs of new generation, transmission and infrastructure; Senate Democrats blocked it last month, arguing it did not go far enough because compliance is voluntary. 1 Left · 1Wired singles out Ohio as the Senate race to watch. It reports the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned in August that Democrat Sherrod Brown's attacks on Sen. Jon Husted over data centers could tip the race, and that Brown calls Husted 'the face of data centers in Ohio'. Senate Democrats torpedoed a Husted-sponsored bill modelled on the White House's ratepayer protection pledge, which Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called 'toothless'. Wired adds that data centers have also entered toss-up Senate races in Michigan, Iowa and Texas. 2 Left · 1Wired also covers House and governor races: it cites candidates labelled with nicknames such as 'Data Center Derek' and 'DC Derrick', says at least 20 gubernatorial candidates have promised some form of moratorium according to Multistate, notes New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the only true hyperscale moratorium in July, and says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott moved from welcoming data centers to a de facto moratorium on permits. It adds that voters in eight states face more than 30 local ballot measures, over half of them in Ohio. 2

Left · 1Wired judges that, although pocketbook issues are likely to be uppermost for voters, data centers are potent enough to swing tight races and the balance of power in Congress; the election is on 3 November. 2