Hi The Narrative Matters,
Democrats’ sweep of both houses of Congress has been described as a call for a new direction in Washington. But the results don’t just suggest change is coming to Capitol Hill. They’re also a call for officials working out of statehouses and council chambers to be more assertive — especially on the future of data centers.
It’s been noted that more than 40 measures restricting or placing moratoriums on data centers were before the voters last week and all but one succeeded. This is truly a remarkable result — rarely is there that much consensus on any issue — and it reflects voters’ frustration with their lack of control over the spread of data centers. As we documented earlier this year, state legislatures have largely avoided passing measures to regulate data centers, and that has left local officials in a bind. On one side has been the angry neighbors worried about how data centers will impact their lives; on the other has been communities’ own economic development consultants telling them data centers are essential to future prosperity. How does a county commissioner or city councilor choose? In a political situation that difficult, you can imagine many local officials welcoming a clear message from the voters to just hit “Stop.”
But even the most anti-data center politicians have characterized moratoriums as short-term solutions. In Ohio, where 14 moratoriums passed, Gov.-elect Amy Acton is describing the pause as “conditional.” She says they can proceed once Ohioans are given assurances that they won’t see higher utility bills, that they will see union jobs, and that there will be transparency and accountability as deals are developed. Meanwhile, Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa wants outgoing Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to place new guardrails on data centers.
State legislatures have a tremendous amount of power when it comes to land use. And with such a clear message from voters, state lawmakers seem likely to use that power, at least in places like Ohio and Texas. But they may not have the last word either. It’s hard to imagine anything that crosses state borders more than the internet, and that opens the door to Congress stepping up its involvement. In fact, there has been a move since the election to push through legislation that would speed approval of data centers and supporting infrastructure, before Democrats take control.
It’s impossible to predict how the debate over data centers shakes out, but it seems that after last week’s election, the era of inaction — by state, local and federal officials — is over.
Sincerely,
| Chas Sisk Editorial Director, Ag & Water Desk |
The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is an independent environmental reporting network covering America’s largest watershed. The Narrative Matters, through collaborative agreements is allowed to share their copyrighted stories.
