Meta Says Election Backlash Could Make Data Center Expansion Harder

What happened

Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said Democratic wins in the midterm elections could make it harder for companies to build data centers, as voters' concerns about them are tied to broader feelings about AI. She said Meta's local agreements can include paying for its own electricity, directing tax surpluses to teachers and first responders, and hiring locally. Meta has data centers in 23 states, with five planned projects of one gigawatt or more.

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The story so far

Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said Democratic wins in the midterm elections could make it harder for companies to build data centers, as voter concerns about data centers reflect broader concerns about AI. She said the industry has not done enough to explain the benefits of these investments. Meta says its local agreements can include paying for its own electricity, directing tax surpluses to teachers and first responders, and hiring locally. The company has data centers in 23 states and five planned projects of at least one gigawatt each.