On Election Day, Peter Hubbard made headlines as one of two Democratic candidates securing a surprising victory in Georgia, marking the first time Democrats have claimed statewide seats in nearly twenty years. His election to the Georgia Public Service Commission, the regulatory body overseeing the state’s electric utility, underscored a significant shift in local political dynamics.
In his campaign, Hubbard found that constituents were increasingly vocal about concerns surrounding data centers. “The number one issue was affordability,” he noted, “but a very close second was data centers and the concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land—and not really paying any taxes.”
Georgia is rapidly becoming a focal point for data center expansion, attributed to generous tax breaks and an influx of investment. This has also spurred growing resistance against such developments. A recent report from Data Center Watch highlighted a marked increase in local opposition to data centers across the country, particularly in traditionally red states like Georgia and Indiana.
The findings showcased a dramatic escalation in opposition between March and June of 2025, revealing that local communities had successfully blocked or delayed nearly $98 billion in data center projects during that time frame. Previous research indicated that local opposition had previously halted $64 billion worth of projects from May 2024 to March 2025. The surge in activism included significant public engagement, with nearly 50,000 signatures collected on petitions against specific data centers within just a few months.
This mounting resistance has drawn political attention, as local candidates harness concerns about data center expansions into their platforms. For instance, Virginia’s governor-elect Abigail Spanberger campaigned on the principle that data centers need to "pay their own way" for power. Many constituents across party lines are beginning to voice their opposition, reflecting a broader sentiment against the unchecked growth of data facilities and their potential impact on local infrastructures and utility costs.
In Virginia, State Delegate Josh Thomas has actively campaigned on data center issues, especially highlighting the local pushback against the proposed Prince William Digital Gateway, which threatened to establish over 30 data centers near a national reserve. Ultimately, public dissent culminated in a court decision that temporarily halted construction, giving residents a rare victory against such mega-projects.
Despite the bipartisan nature of the opposition, the market enthusiasm for data centers remains robust. Major tech firms continue to plan extensive investments in this domain. Meta, for example, announced plans to allocate $600 billion towards AI infrastructure, including data centers, over the next few years. While community victories against specific projects are notable, the overarching trend indicates that the data center boom is likely to persist, with ongoing efforts among local lawmakers to address concerns and regulate future developments.
As this resistance gains traction, both Hubbard and Thomas acknowledge that it is indicative of a larger transformation in how communities engage with tech companies and their expansive projects. "People are just a lot more cost-conscious," Thomas asserts, recognizing that electricity bills influenced by data centers are now a pressing concern among constituents. The activism against data center sprawl signals a pivotal moment where community voices are starting to shape the future of these developments.
