Data centers are now a midterm issue, even in Brooklyn
News Source
β’Sun, 01 Nov 2026 02:22:10 +0000
π° What Happened
Data centres have become an election issue in the United States. At a midterm event in Brooklyn on Thursday, almost every conversation turned to AI and the buildings that power it.
The event was run by Newsreel, a media company started by former reporter Jack Brewster. Speakers included the founders of the app Opal and the campaign software Barza. A panel on data centres drew a crowd.
A reporter there said the mood outside the tech world is far angrier than inside it. The midterms are on 3 November.
π The Backstory
AI models run in data centres, which are huge warehouses full of computers. They need large amounts of electricity and water for cooling, and they are being built across the US at record speed.
Residents often complain about higher power bills, noise from cooling fans, and land use. Politicians have started to notice, because these fights happen in specific towns and counties.
For years tech policy was a Washington topic. Now it shows up in local races, where a few thousand votes can decide who wins.
π― Why It Matters
If you pay an electricity bill, data centres can affect your costs and your neighbourhood. Elections now decide how fast they get built and who pays for the power lines.
Data centres have become an election issue in the United States. At a midterm event in Brooklyn on Thursday, almost every conversation turned to AI and the buildings that power it.
The event was run by Newsreel, a media company started by former reporter Jack Brewster. Speakers included the founders of the app Opal and the campaign software Barza. A panel on data centres drew a crowd.
A reporter there said the mood outside the tech world is far angrier than inside it. The midterms are on 3 November.
AI models run in data centres, which are huge warehouses full of computers. They need large amounts of electricity and water for cooling, and they are being built across the US at record speed.
Residents often complain about higher power bills, noise from cooling fans, and land use. Politicians have started to notice, because these fights happen in specific towns and counties.
For years tech policy was a Washington topic. Now it shows up in local races, where a few thousand votes can decide who wins.
If you pay an electricity bill, data centres can affect your costs and your neighbourhood. Elections now decide how fast they get built and who pays for the power lines.