Billion-dollar data center projects are also among the losers in the US election

While a complete ban on the establishment of new data centers was presented to the voters in some cities, approval was requested in some settlements to suspend the development of new data center projects for 180 days or 6 months or to suspend the application and permit processes for these projects.

In some cities, proposals were voted to ban the establishment of data centers with an electricity demand of more than 25 megawatts, and in some regions, to bring voter approval or additional financial guarantees for the implementation of large-scale projects.

A proposal to ban data center construction in Alhambra, California, received support from 82 percent of voters, while a proposal to ban the approval, construction, expansion and operation of new data centers in Edgewater, Florida, received 77 percent support.

A proposal recommending a temporary moratorium on large-scale data center construction in Bloomington, Illinois, received 78 percent support.

Ohio was the state where proposals for data centers were voted on the most. Proposals to ban the construction of data centers with total electricity demand or peak loads exceeding 25 megawatts were adopted in the state's cities of Conneaut, Defiance, Oregon and Sunbury. Banning data center construction in the city of Granville received the support of 82 percent of voters, while banning large-scale data center construction in Trenton received 80 percent support.

It was observed that the discontent towards data centers in the USA was reflected in races at the state government level as well as local votes.

According to data from the US Data Center Map, there are a total of 561 data center facilities and projects in operation, under construction or planned in Texas, and 232 data center facilities and projects in Georgia. It is considered that the victory of Democratic candidates in the governorship races in both states may change the policies regarding data center investments.

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who won the election after criticizing Republican Governor Greg Abbott for uncontrollably turning the state into a data center hub, plans to impose a statewide moratorium on new projects until laws are passed that regulate data centers and ensure the participation of local communities in decision-making processes.

It is stated that the policies of Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, who advocated stopping new data center construction and won the governor's race in Georgia, may have significant effects on the future of investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.