Data Centers Are a Local Political Issue with National Consequences

In late 2025, Meta ran a series of ads that had all the markings of typical political advertising: they talked about jobs, economic growth, and building for the future. The company spent more than $6 million on the campaign, which ran in markets like Des Moines, Tallahassee, and Salt Lake City.

However, these ads weren’t pitching a political candidate. Instead, they extolled the value of local data centers, such as those being built around the country to fuel the artificial intelligence boom. The ad campaign was the latest sign that what was once a local NIMBY land-use fight has become a political flashpoint with national implications. Data center development has already shaped election outcomes in statewide races in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia.

The good news for companies is that voters are not entirely dismissive of the need to build these facilities. In February 2026, Narrative Strategies conducted polling that found that only 36% of Americans say that data centers do more harm than good. Still, they are not convinced that the trade-offs of data center development are ultimately beneficial. By wide margins, they named tech companies (65%-11%) and big corporations (60%-12%) as the biggest beneficiaries, but said people like "me and my family" were more likely to lose than gain (30%-25%).

Companies operating in this space have an opportunity, but they also must understand that vocal opposition is fueled by multiple factors that extend well beyond real estate development:

1. Energy affordability: Cost-of-living concerns rise above – or are wrapped into – every other political issue. Data centers are fighting the widening public perception that they are driving higher energy prices. The 2025 off-cycle elections showed that rising energy prices will remain on the ballot for the foreseeable future, and members of both parties likely see an opportunity to leverage data center energy as a wedge issue.

2. AI skepticism is rising, and voters are anxious about how AI might affect the economy and their own jobs. Public polling, including our Narrative Nexus survey, shows that voters are uneasy about the economic implications of AI, and a large share of Americans has yet to form an opinion about its effects. This skepticism is both a challenge and an opportunity for technology companies to define how AI is enabling stability, building local economies, enhancing grid reliability, and increasing productivity. Strong storytelling can also make the case for what is required now to build for the future.

3. Distrust of “big tech” has continued to rise over the last decade. For several years, the tech industry sat atop the business world with higher favorability ratings than any other sector. Now, the industry operates with a significant trust deficit, thanks to a host of political battles that have left companies open to attacks from the left and the right.

The combination of anxiety about AI and rising costs, along with increased skepticism of "big tech" companies, has transformed this once highly localized issue into a national political debate.

How can tech and energy companies engage in this battle?

Shaping public opinion and making a persuasive case to decision-makers requires a coordinated effort to educate, persuade, tell compelling stories, and outmaneuver the opposition. Taking the issue seriously and building broad support is a critical step, but companies can fall into a trap by believing they can win public opinion battles with a positive message about jobs and growth.

Moving the dial will require companies to understand the very real and volatile risks they face and then address them head-on. They must play offense, but they must also recognize that the ground can – and likely will – shift beneath their feet. A successful playbook will include public support, coalition building, crisis planning, and a full scope of proactive and reactive messages across every available medium. Building support can’t be a mere messaging exercise. Companies must back up their words with concrete actions.

The agreement tech companies reached with the White House to supply their own energy sources for data centers signifies an acknowledgment of the need to address the existential threat posed by growing anti-development sentiment. However, this agreement is more of a baseline step rather than a comprehensive solution.

Some companies are also beginning to introduce new elements into the dynamic by integrating data centers into mixed-use developments or even redeveloping a shuttered coal plant into a natural-gas-powered data center complex. These organizations have recognized they can strengthen their standing in a community by proactively offering new benefits and communicating how they use innovative approaches.

Lastly, these public affairs efforts can’t just be a top-down approach from corporate headquarters; they must be rooted in the local communities where data centers operate. Community advisory boards can help companies navigate and help localize the benefits of data center development. Messaging about jobs, tax revenue, and community should be supported by local storytelling and authenticated by local community champions.

Data center politics are no longer theoretical. They are already shaping elections, policy decisions, and public trust in companies operating in this space. Companies that not only want to survive but also capitalize on this moment will have to tackle the issues fueling skepticism and resistance toward tech companies and data center development. A successful approach will connect immediate, local benefits to the longer-term case for AI leadership, economic growth, and national competitiveness. Durable, intertwined messages can’t be built overnight, but the window to get started is still open – for now.