Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel said Wednesday that communities across the United States are mounting stronger opposition to data center construction. Berkshire’s role in the boom is focused on supplying power and electricity, and the conglomerate is willing to serve hyperscalers (large computing infrastructure companies) only if doing so does not affect rates for its other customers. Mizuho analyst Vikram Malhotra said the issue could become politically important ahead of the midterms, citing investor questions about resource use and limited long-term job creation. The United States has approximately 4,700 data centers, while electricity bills near major hubs have risen as much as 267% over five years. Data centers consume 4% to 5% of U.S. electricity. New York has imposed a one-year moratorium on construction of large new facilities, at least 11 states have active moratorium bills, and more than 150 energy-related measures were considered in statehouses in 2026. Local opposition has also influenced elections, including in Warrenton, Virginia, where voters replaced every town council member who supported an Amazon data center proposal in November 2024.