At least 41 local ballot measures could restrict data center development as communities raise concerns about electricity, water use and environmental impacts.
Voters in 10 U.S. states will consider measures to restrict artificial intelligence data center development in their communities during the November 2026 election, as concerns over electricity consumption, water use and local environmental impacts fuel opposition to the industry’s rapid expansion.
According to a Reuters report published Oct. 29, voters in 38 local jurisdictions will consider at least 41 proposals to delay, prohibit or impose additional requirements on data center projects. The measures reflect growing resistance to facilities that provide the computing power needed to run AI applications.
READ: Indian Americans to watch as 2026 midterm elections near (October 29, 2026)
Ohio has emerged as a focal point, with voters in more than a dozen jurisdictions set to consider 21 data center-related proposals, according to the nonpartisan research group Ballotpedia, as cited by Reuters.
Electricity and water use drive opposition
Community organizers say concerns about the demands data centers place on local resources are bringing residents across party lines together.
Jessica Baker, a local organizer with the advocacy group Conserve Ohio, told Reuters that opposition stems from concerns about electricity and water use, as well as potential health risks from facilities built near residential neighborhoods.
Residents have raised concerns even about projects that plan to generate electricity through gas turbines or nuclear reactors, Baker said.
The debate has also reached communities where residents object to development decisions made without sufficient public consultation. As proposals for large facilities move forward, local campaigns are seeking greater control over zoning, construction and operating requirements.
Amazon project faces potential restrictions
The proposed restrictions could affect major technology companies investing in AI infrastructure.
In Sunbury, near Columbus, Ohio, a ballot measure seeking to prohibit data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts of power could threaten Amazon’s proposed $2 billion data center development, Reuters reported. Amazon public policy lead Shannon Kellogg appeared on local television in October to address questions about the project ahead of the vote.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to say whether the ballot initiatives would change the company’s broader expansion plans. The company said it was working with residents and local officials to develop facilities that create jobs, generate tax revenue and support technology services.
The company also said its commitment to communities where it operates would remain unchanged regardless of the outcome of individual ballot measures.
Data center expansion continues despite resistance
The growing opposition has yet to substantially slow the U.S. data center construction boom.
According to John McWilliams, head of data center insights at real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, U.S. data center capacity under construction increased 48% between December 2025 and June 2026, measured in gigawatts.
READ: Elon Musk’s AI data centers face noise backlash (October 6, 2026)
Baron Fung, who oversees IT infrastructure research at Dell’Oro Group, told Reuters that restrictions or cancellations in some locations could lead developers to shift projects to other sites rather than abandon them. The industry is already facing challenges, including lengthy waits for electricity grid connections and rising construction costs. Additional local restrictions could influence where developers choose to build, even if they do not substantially reduce overall investment.
The ballot measures therefore present a local policy challenge for an industry seeking to expand computing capacity to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence.
As communities weigh the economic benefits of new facilities against their potential effects on energy resources and residential areas, the results of the November votes could shape local development rules. They could also influence future data center site selection across the United States.