The AI industry is pouring countless resources into building massive data centers around the world.
Plants are extremely resource-hungry, sucking up vast amounts of fresh water to cool hot computer hardware. They are putting massive strain on the electric grid, forcing some utility operators to call blackouts during heat waves and cold weather.
After this the matter escalated Washington Post informed The recent increase in customer energy bills was due to the huge and increasing power demands of AI data centers.
In short, it’s no surprise that small towns across the country are coordinating efforts to keep data centers out of the way — a PR disaster that’s tarnishing a larger effort by AI companies to scale up their broader operations.
And this sounds like Mark Zuckerberg’s meta, which is Committed to spend $600 billion on AI data centersIs painfully aware of pushback. In form of new York Times reportsThe company has already spent $6 million on TV ads to convince Americans that data centers are not He Bad. A “people’s” ad showing a new data center in Altoona, Iowa, argued, “We’re bringing jobs here.”
And it’s not just Meta that is trying to distract the public’s attention from all the obvious shortcomings of the data centers springing up across the country. is amazon Running your own similar ad campaign For example, in Virginia, warning viewers that the facilities “help connect us to the whole world.”
according to financial TimesData center operators are trying to get ahead of the growing public backlash, as well, “planning to be aggressive with a lobbying blitz”. A data center executive told foot Spending on lobbying is miniscule compared to the tens of billions being spent on infrastructure.
He argued, “If we’re going to spend billions of dollars on capital projects this year, we should probably spend millions of dollars on messaging, too.”
Yet the growing backlash is already hampering construction efforts. More than two dozen projects have been blocked or delayed this month alone, According to research firm MacroEdgethan just total 25 In 2025.
In short, it’s no surprise to see tech giants trying to control the narrative by spending millions of dollars to change public opinion about features.
As told by marketing analysts NYTMETA’s efforts probably aren’t just targeted at residents. Their aim is to influence lawmakers and policymakers, ensuring that an aggressive nationwide effort to build AI infrastructure will not become an issue in Washington, DC.
Rising energy bills have already become a controversial topic, especially The broader context of rising cost of livingWith Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MA) introduce a bill earlier this month to regulate data center energy use.
Even President Donald Trump, who has been a major supporter of AI, argued that Big Tech “will have to pay its own way”. Recent posts on Truth SocialSuggesting that the topic is not entirely divided by party lines. Republican lawmakers have also called for more AI regulation and a more careful approach to data center buildouts npr reports.
Other politicians worry about overindulging on AI infrastructure buildout, which could end badly in the long term if the AI sector crashes, as many experts have warned.
“What I’m very concerned about with this ad campaign is that localities are committing to this industry and then in ten years are saying, ‘What have we done to ourselves,'” said Democratic state Assemblywoman Dianne Papon in California. NYT.
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