September 5, 2026
A permanent public ledger of 90 verified actions on the record. Each entry links directly to its underlying primary government document, council minutes, regulatory filing, or corroborated news report.
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Doug Krogmeier, Planning & Zoning Director, wrote that ordinance ensures new industrial development does not have infrastructure demands that become burden on existing residents and businesses. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Austin Child said build data centers only in communities where median home price is above $3 million, make them build their own power source not connected to public grid, give no tax breaks, and enact strict environmental protections. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Christine Bock said if data centers make money they should pay their own way with no corporate tax benefits, discounts, or dumping. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Adam Agosto said if data centers can supply their own power to regulatory spec they could be built but must address infrastructural and environmental concerns and taxpayers and ComEd customers should not bear any costs. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
David Mansfield said data centers need to be built but there needs to be better methodology for where and how. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Alyce Langreder Garcia said data centers should not be built, especially in heavily populated areas, and statistics are coming in about adverse impacts on wildlife, people, businesses, communities and natural resources. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Drew Pekala said we need to keep up with the rest of the world and that if we don't build data centers then we fall behind as a society and as a country. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Sergio Antonio Cueto Tellez asked how people can think data centers are OK when natural resources are becoming scarce. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Deborah Bullwinkel said Great Lakes are at risk of depletion and pollution, electricity rates will skyrocket, and data centers cause noise, light, air and water pollution, ruin wetlands and kill wildlife, and negatively impact property values. Said September 5, 2026.
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Chicago resident
Tim Patterson said data centers should not be done and that Chicago needs to build something that will make life better for Chicagoans such as fixing deferred infrastructure maintenance instead. Said September 5, 2026.
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James Jorgenson, an engineering drafting and design education assistant professor at Dunwoody College of Technology, said data centers affect daily life more than many people realize and it isn't just for AI. Said September 5, 2026.
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co-director of Wesleyan Media Project
Michael Franz said data centers give Democrats talking points on environmental concerns and Republicans talking points opposing corporations that do not care about people. Said September 5, 2026.
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spokeswoman for Democratic Governors Association
Olivia Davis said data centers are creating deep concerns around affordability and utility costs in political campaigns. Said September 5, 2026.
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gubernatorial candidate
Walz suggested a committee of experts on power and natural resource consumption advise data center projects coming to Nebraska communities. Said September 5, 2026.
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gubernatorial candidate
Walz expressed opposition to state government dictating data center allowances and said communities should build their own economic development plans. Said September 5, 2026.
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gubernatorial candidate
Walz referenced Lincoln Premium Poultry opening in Fremont in 2018 and the community adjusting plans, suggesting she wants data center decisions handled similarly with local input. Said September 5, 2026.
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gubernatorial candidate
Lynne Walz said state government should not tell communities what they can and cannot allow in their areas and those decisions should be local. Said September 5, 2026.
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Executive Councilor, New Hampshire
Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill called for immediate action on a moratorium, stating that waiting until July 2027 is too late. Said September 5, 2026.
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Governor of New Hampshire
Gov. Ayotte stated she wants to reduce energy prices and that data centers would raise energy costs. Said September 5, 2026.
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Oly Perez, community organizer and paramedic, said the community was blindsided by the proposal and expressed concern about high rates of respiratory illness in the area. Said September 5, 2026.
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state House candidate and Silver City Democrat
State House candidate Raul Turrieta, a Silver City Democrat, called for a moratorium to allow time to establish environmental guardrails. Said September 5, 2026.
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Corner (venture capital firm)
Project connected to Corner, a New York based venture capital firm describing itself as a multi billion dollar investment firm backing companies across the AI economy. Said September 5, 2026.
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state Senator
Christine Drazan launched a 30 second online ad stating Tina Kotek rolled out the red carpet for data centers with more than a billion in tax breaks. Said September 5, 2026.
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co-director, Wesleyan Media Project
Michael Franz, co director of the Wesleyan Media Project, said data centers give both political parties talking points they want to use. Said September 5, 2026.
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Nathan Soltz, Democratic Party of Oregon chair
The Democratic Party of Oregon responded saying Christine Drazan had opportunity after opportunity to stand up against data centers and every time chose not to. Said September 5, 2026.
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spokeswoman, Democratic Governors Association
Olivia Davis, spokeswoman for the Democratic Governors Association, said data centers are creating deep concerns around affordability and utility costs. Said September 5, 2026.
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Republican Party operative (unnamed)
A Republican Party operative said the most popular Republican position is that data centers could be acceptable as long as they pay for their own energy. Said September 5, 2026.
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Community Development Director, Rapid City
Vicki Fisher, Community Development Director for Rapid City, says communities have experienced issues with data centers including water usage, sewer impact, electric usage, noise and vibration. Said September 5, 2026.
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Brian Bengs, independent candidate for U.S. Senate, says over half a million dollars from Meta's Forge the Future Project political action committee was pumped into seventeen South Dakota legislative races. Said September 5, 2026.
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Stephen Tamang, Rapid City Council President, says that right now large scale data centers are not a net positive and are not welcome in Rapid City from his standpoint. Said September 5, 2026.
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U.S. Senator
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds says data centers should go only where actively welcomed by local populations and long term solution likely lies in space based data centers. Said September 5, 2026.
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U.S. Representative
Rep. Ro Khanna proposed a Data Center Bill of Rights that would ban construction within 2,500 feet of a home. Said September 5, 2026.
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Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health and National Resources Defense Council
Hyperscale data centers drive substantial demand for fossil fuel fired power and resulting greenhouse gas emissions that worsen air quality and raise health costs. Said September 5, 2026.
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Michael Franz, co director of the Wesleyan Media Project, said data centres give both parties the talking points it wants. Said September 5, 2026.
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California
California lawmakers want data centers to pay more in taxes.
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Maryland
More than half of Maryland's counties have hit pause on data centers.
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Maryland
Anne Arundel County has pending data center restrictions.
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Maryland
Harford County has an outright ban on data centers.
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New Hampshire
New Hampshire will introduce a moratorium on AI data centers in the next state budget.
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South Carolina
A one year water reporting requirement for data centers passed in the South Carolina state budget.
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Fairfield County
Fairfield County granted initial approval to a 12 month moratorium in August.
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Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant in Charleston County has begun considering a data center moratorium, one of the first towns to do so in South Carolina.
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South Carolina
At least 15 South Carolina counties have proposed or passed temporary data center moratoriums.
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West Virginia
Morrisey announced two new state approvals for high impact data center projects in Mason County.
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West Virginia
Governor Morrisey signed House Bill 2014 into law removing local zoning and regulatory control over data center projects and shielding developers from public disclosure requirements.
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Willamette Week
Tax Fairness Oregon says the state has given $457 million in data center tax breaks this year. Oregon, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 457,000,000 dollars a year -
Willamette Week
The latest national polling shows opposition to data centers at rates north of 70%. Oregon, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 70 percent -
Texas Public Radio | TPR
Georgia's gubernatorial contest spent the most on data center ads: $12.8 million across nine ads. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 12,800,000 dollars -
Texas Public Radio | TPR
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 77% of Americans are concerned about data centers raising electricity costs. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 77 percent -
wvgazettemail.com
Prior to the data center boom, people in the United States faced well over 820 billion dollars in physical and mental health damages from burning fossil fuels and climate change related events each year. United States, national, 2026.
Key Figure 820,000,000,000 dollars per year -
Willamette Week
According to Pew Research, the state now has 142 data centers: 115 in operation and 27 in development, ranking Oregon ninth in overall footprint in the U.S. Oregon, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 142 facilities -
Texas Public Radio | TPR
More than half of GOP spending on data center ads has been in Georgia, and Georgia captured about 30% of total spending. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 30 percent -
Wyoming Public Media
From January to August 2026, over $22 million supported Republican candidates and over $21 million for Democratic candidates on data centre ads. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 22,000,000 USD -
Wyoming Public Media
Georgia's contest for governor has spent the most on ads mentioning data centres, $12.8 million across nine ads. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 12,800,000 USD -
Minnesota Public Radio News
More than $21 million of political ad spending supported Democratic candidates on data centers from January to August 2026. MN, 2026.
Key Figure 21,000,000 dollars -
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
A poll shows 60% of Minnesotans are against data centers, while 27% are in favor and the rest are unsure. Minnesota, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 60 percent -
Yahoo
A Meta data center under construction in Aiken County will likely use 200 megawatts of power. South Carolina, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 200 MW -
OPB
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 77 percent of Americans are concerned about data centers raising electricity costs. statewide, United States, 2026.
Key Figure 77 percent -
Yahoo
NorthMark is building a $2.8 billion data center project in Spartanburg County with 450 megawatts of natural gas generation. South Carolina, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 450 MW -
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
State officials with DEED say there have been 12 proposed data centers in Minnesota this year. Minnesota, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 12 count -
Minnesota Public Radio News
Over $22 million of political ad spending supported Republican candidates on data centers from January to August 2026. MN, 2026.
Key Figure 22,000,000 dollars -
The Independent
The five biggest hyperscale tech companies,Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta and Oracle,are projected to spend more than $560 billion on AI infrastructure this year. NY, 2026.
Key Figure 560,000,000,000 USD -
Albuquerque Journal
Journal poll found 75% of respondents favored a temporary halt to data center development to set standards addressing local environmental and economic consequences. Grant County, NM, 2026.
Key Figure 75 percent -
The Independent
A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that just 14 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of Republicans think new data centers are good for America. NY, 2026.
Key Figure 14 percent -
Wyoming Public Media
Since January 2026, campaigns and outside groups spent over $45 million on ads mentioning data centres in gubernatorial, House and Senate races. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 45,000,000 USD -
Minnesota Public Radio News
Campaigns and outside groups spent more than $45 million on ads mentioning data centers from January to August 2026. MN, 2026.
Key Figure 45,000,000 dollars -
Texas Public Radio | TPR
Campaigns and outside groups have spent more than $45 million on ads mentioning data centers in 2026 gubernatorial, House and Senate races since January. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 45,000,000 dollars -
Wyoming Public Media
A June 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 77 percent of Americans are concerned about data centres raising electricity costs. United States, statewide, 2026.
Key Figure 77 percent -
Albuquerque Journal
Anticipated emissions of nearly 1.3 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, equivalent to annual emissions from 173,000 homes or 300,000 gasoline powered automobiles. Grant County, NM, 2026.
Key Figure 173,000 homes -
Removed: outside the record's US scope. The news item that stood at this address was unpublished; the correction log carries the line, and nothing else is kept here.
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California lawmakers target data center power costs and energy use - ABC10
California lawmakers targeted data center power costs and energy use through legislative action. The item reports regulatory efforts to address data center energy consumption.
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Some California lawmakers want data centers to pay more. Here’s what the bills would do if they're signed into law by Newsom - ABC10
California lawmakers have proposed bills to increase data center taxation. The bills await Governor Newsom's signature to become law.
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Planning & Zoning Commission to continue researching data center-related ordinances - mississippivalleypublishing.com
Fort Madison city council directs planning commission to develop High Infrastructure Impact Development ordinance and expanded zoning authority for data centers.
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What do you think of efforts to build data centers in Chicago? Here's what you told us
Readers express mixed views on Chicago data center development, citing concerns about environmental impacts and public costs alongside economic competitiveness arguments.
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More than half of Maryland’s counties have hit pause on data centers - Baltimore Sun
Harford County has banned data centers outright and Anne Arundel County has restrictions pending, as a majority of Maryland's counties have put data centers on pause.
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Across Chesapeake Bay region, data centers are facing bans, moratoriums - Maryland Matters
Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region are experiencing a wave of data center bans and moratoriums amid rising public opposition. Seventeen localities have adopted moratoriums lasting up to two years, with New York becoming the first state to adopt a statewide moratorium.
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Most Minnesotans aren’t sold on data centers, but others say it’s not just AI that uses them - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
A poll shows 60% of Minnesotans oppose data centers; state officials report 12 proposed facilities in Minnesota this year.
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Armada's modular AI data center strengthens North Dakota's tech, defense ambitions - uasmagazine.com
Armada is developing a modular AI data center in North Dakota to advance the state's tech and defense capabilities. The project represents a proposed data center aligned with state strategic interests.
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Lynne Walz talks data centers and division in Columbus - Columbus Telegram
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz stated she opposes state government telling communities what data centers they can allow and advocates for local control of data center decisions.
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September 5, 2026 New England News Roundup - WKXL
Federal filings show Granite Shore Power is exploring a 350 megawatt data center project in Bow, New Hampshire; Governor Kelly Ayotte has called for a statewide moratorium.
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Letter: Data center hysterics are a leftwing trope
Nick McNulty of Windham argues that opposition to data centers reflects leftist ideology and that areas like Loudoun County and Quincy have benefited economically. He contends Governor Kelly Ayotte blocks data centers in New Hampshire despite high property taxes.
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AI companies dump $265M into midterms as data center backlash heats up - The Independent
AI companies pledge 265 million dollars to super PACs and political groups in 2026 elections amid nationwide data center backlash.
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Voters are fed up with data centers. Both parties are trying to cash in for midterms
Both Democratic and Republican campaigns spent $45 million on ads since January attacking data centers for tax breaks and rising electricity costs, converging on affordability and regulation as midterm issue.
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Almost a third of SC counties considered temporary data center ban. Here’s where - Yahoo
At least 15 South Carolina counties proposed or passed temporary data center moratoriums as of September 2026, up from nine earlier that summer, amid pushback over water and energy impacts.
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Rapid City data center backlash: EPA rules, Meta cash & space tech - KOTA Territory News
Rapid City proposes municipal ordinance requiring public hearings and council votes on data center proposals, citing concerns over water, sewer, electric usage and environmental impacts.
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WV leaders ignore high public health costs from large-scale data center development - wvgazettemail.com
West Virginia governor and Senator promote data center growth despite documented public health costs from fossil fuel power demand and emissions.
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Voters are fed up with data centers. Both parties are trying to cash in for midterms - Wyoming Public Media
Democrats and Republicans spent over $45 million since January on campaign ads attacking data centres as utilities rise and public protests mount.
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Former Star Tribune Printing Plant Data Center
The former Star Tribune printing plant in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood is in talks to become the city's latest data center. The site is under the city's 350 thousand square foot moratorium limit. The record reads reported, reported September 5, 2026.
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Bow Data Center
The project is proposed at the Merrimack Station, a coal fired power plant that ceased operations in September 2025. The record reads reported, reported September 5, 2026.
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Bow Data Center
Granite Shore Power is exploring a 350 megawatt data center project in Bow. The record reads reported, reported September 5, 2026.
