China Didn’t Make Americans Hate Data Centers

Article excerpt

Republican lawmakers, tech investors, and OpenAI have blamed Chinese interference for America's growing opposition to data centers, citing coordinated social media campaigns and foreign influence. But experts argue the anti-data-center movement, driven by local concerns about land use, environmental impact, water consumption, and property values, reflects genuine grassroots opposition rather than geopolitical manipulation. The narrative of Chinese interference, while not entirely unsupported, oversimplifies a complex domestic debate where communities are authentically fighting projects they see as threats to their regions.