A growing number of left-wing organizations and climate activists are channeling resources into campaigns opposing data center development across the United States, according to experts. This coordinated effort is seen by some as a familiar tactic used to hinder energy infrastructure projects.
Larry Behrens, communications director at Power The Future, described the opposition as employing a "playbook we've seen before," drawing parallels to past movements against projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline and oil and natural gas production. He noted that these campaigns often present themselves as grassroots efforts but share uniform messaging and tactics, suggesting external financial backing.
Several prominent left-wing organizations involved in data center opposition have received funding from significant progressive networks. Public Citizen, for instance, has acknowledged support from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. The Sierra Club, another group opposing data centers, received approximately $3.6 million from Arabella Advisors’ Sixteen Thirty Fund between 2014 and 2022.
Further scrutiny has been placed on CodePink, an organization that has targeted data center projects and has received funding linked to socialist megadonor Neville Roy Singham. Reports indicate Singham has channeled substantial funds into activist nonprofits, coinciding with the U.S. and China's competition for global AI dominance.
In Texas, identified as a key battleground for data center opposition, a network of left-wing groups including Public Citizen, the Sierra Club, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation has been active. These groups have collaborated on events such as the Texas Data Center Rebellion and forums opposing specific development projects that include data centers.
Behrens asserted that these groups often route funds through a complex web of organizations to obscure their origins, creating the appearance of local opposition. While acknowledging that legitimate local concerns exist, he highlighted instances where legislative language, talking points, and legal arguments are identical across different groups, indicating a lack of organic local movement.
The primary motivations cited for this opposition from the left include ideological opposition to progress and a stance against fossil fuels, according to Behrens. He contends that data centers, representing American jobs and reliant on American energy, are inherently opposed by elements of the environmental left. Behrens also suggested that these groups employ diversionary tactics, focusing on issues like water use or land use, while overlooking similar impacts from other industries like cannabis cultivation or solar farm development.
Data centers have emerged as a significant political issue, particularly in states like Texas, Ohio, and Nevada. Polling suggests that a majority of voters express opposition to building data centers in their own communities, with a strong preference for slower development to address environmental and local concerns.
Will Hild, Executive Director of Consumers' Research, stated that climate activists are leveraging consumer concerns to campaign against data center development, characterizing it as an effort to halt technological infrastructure. He noted the similarity between current tactics and those used against the oil and gas industry.
The backlash against data centers is increasingly influencing midterm elections, pressuring candidates to address voter concerns about electricity costs, water usage, and community impact. The issue has appeared in various Senate and gubernatorial races, with campaigns using data centers in attack ads and candidates calling for stricter regulations.
In Texas, data center opposition has become a focus for Democratic organizing efforts, with coordinated campaigns hosting town halls and events featuring Democratic candidates and organizing protests against proposed data centers.
Behrens advised data center companies to engage directly with local stakeholders, discuss the benefits of their projects, and clarify the function of data centers. He also cautioned against adopting positions solely based on the opposition of figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, or Kathy Hochul, suggesting these individuals have historically been incorrect on major energy issues.
A spokesperson for the Sixteen Thirty Fund responded to criticism by stating the group "proudly supported the Sierra Club" and defended the legitimacy of community concerns about data center projects, calling it "absurd" to dismiss these questions as anti-American or anti-progress. The spokesperson urged corporate interests to address potential impacts rather than attacking those who speak out.