AI advocacy group spends millions defending data centers in three states

  • Build American AI will advertise in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin supporting data center construction.
  • 61% of surveyed U.S. adults opposed new local data centers, up from 49%.
  • Data Center Watch recorded 75 blocked or delayed projects worth about $130 billion in early 2026.

Build American AI will spend millions of dollars on advertising in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin to defend data center construction, as resistance to new facilities grows. The group is backed by Leading the Future, a super PAC (political action committee operating independently of candidates) whose funders include Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman. Annenberg Public Policy Center polling of 1,320 U.S. adults conducted from June 16 to July 19 found that 61% opposed new data centers in their area, up from 49% in a February-March survey. Opposition included 69% of Democrats, 54% of Republicans and 53% of independents. The National Republican Senatorial Committee said the issue was becoming toxic, highlighting Ohio's Senate race between Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown and Republican Senator Jon Husted. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized communities resisting data centers, while New York, Texas and several cities have imposed moratoriums, pauses or bans. Data Center Watch counted 75 projects worth about $130 billion blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, a trend lenders have begun treating as credit risk. The dispute echoes opposition to Bitcoin mining, as miners increasingly lease long-sought power and grid connections to AI companies. TeraWulf, Hut 8 and IREN have announced AI infrastructure agreements worth $19 billion, $9.8 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively.

The information on this website is generated using AI and we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Please use it as reference information only.