Governors' races are being increasingly buffeted by the toxic politics of data centers
- More governors are taking a tougher stance on data centers as opposition grows ahead of the midterm elections.
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration will no longer give data center projects priority treatment for permits or tax exemptions unless they meet new standards.
- Shapiro’s new conditions include paying the full cost of electricity, limiting water use with advanced technology, and obtaining local approval before seeking state approval.
- He said his administration has received reports of more than 100 proposed data center projects in Pennsylvania, many of which he described as speculative and unlikely to be built.
- In Texas, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa aired an ad accusing Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of favoring data center executives over rural communities.
- The political backlash is playing out in battleground states, where opponents say data centers threaten local character, ranchland, and scarce water supplies.
The AP report says data centers are becoming a growing political issue in governors’ races as public pushback intensifies around their energy use and local impact. The controversy is emerging in major states and presidential battlegrounds ahead of the midterm elections.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration will no longer fast-track data center permits or tax exemptions unless developers meet stricter requirements. Those include paying the full cost of power, using advanced technology to reduce water use, and securing local approval before seeking state approval.
Shapiro said Pennsylvania has seen reports of more than 100 proposed projects, which he characterized as speculative and often lacking financing, power supply, or customers. He said some developers are pressuring local officials and threatening community character. His Republican opponent, Stacy Garrity, accused him of helping create the current chaos.
In Texas, Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa ran an ad against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, arguing that he is siding with data center executives over rural residents. The article suggests the political pressure could slow or complicate data center development, which is potentially neutral to mildly negative for related stocks and infrastructure names in the near term, while broader AI demand remains a counterbalance.
数据中心争议正越来越多地搅动州长选战
这篇美联社报道说，随着公众对能耗和地方影响的反弹加剧，数据中心正成为州长选战中的一个日益突出的政治议题。随着中期选举临近，这场争议已经进入多个大州和总统摇摆州。
在宾夕法尼亚州，州长乔希·夏皮罗表示，除非开发商满足更严格的要求，否则州政府将不再为数据中心项目提供审批加速或税收豁免。条件包括由项目方承担全部电力成本、使用先进技术减少用水，并先获得地方批准再申请州级批准。
夏皮罗说，宾州已收到超过100个项目提案，但他认为其中很多只是投机性计划，往往缺乏融资、电力供应或客户。他称部分开发商在向地方官员施压，并威胁社区风貌。共和党对手斯泰西·加里蒂则指责他助长了当前的混乱。
在得克萨斯州，民主党州长候选人吉娜·伊诺霍萨投放广告，指责共和党州长格雷格·阿博特站在数据中心高管一边而不是农村居民一边。就市场而言，这篇报道对相关股票的信号偏中性到略偏空：更严格的审批和地方阻力可能拖慢项目推进，但人工智能带来的长期需求仍可能形成支撑。