In Ashburn, Virginia, part of Data Center Alley, the push against data centers appears to be less about tech culture and more about electricity. Two days after the midterms, Open AI’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, wrote that data centers have become a proxy for public unease about affordability, corporate power, and control. Visiting the area, I saw massive concrete buildings like Equinix facilities and heard activists such as Elena Schlossberg argue the fight is fundamentally about power.
Most centers in Loudoun County tap the existing grid, with utilities like Dominion Energy supplying power largely from natural gas. An average facility draws 54 megawatts, exceeding Denver International Airport’s usage. New state rules now require data centers to fully fund transmission lines, and developers anticipate being cut off from grid power during peak demand.
Many AI projects are locating in rural zones with little grid infrastructure, building their own power via natural‑gas turbines and diesel generators. Anthropic has committed $3.4 billion for gas turbines, reflecting the massive scale—300 megawatts for the smallest AI training centers. Concerns grow that grid strain will push utilities toward more fossil‑fuel generation rather than renewables.
Activists warn that the downstream impact includes increased diesel use and higher emissions, while developers plan for intermittent grid access, underscoring the central role of electricity in the backlash.
Source: MIT Technology Review AI · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing