Governors Who Championed AI Data Centers Now Moving to Restrict Them

Philadelphia environmental justice groups organizing moratorium

Philly Thrive, led by managing co-director Shawmar Pitts, is campaigning for a data center moratorium in Philadelphia; city officials have identified two potential sites in Northeast Philadelphia and the Grays Ferry neighborhood.

Industrial-scarred communities leading grassroots resistance

Opposition is strongest in neighborhoods with industrial history; Grays Ferry sat adjacent to the former East Coast's largest oil refinery (shut down after 2019 explosion), whose residents documented chronic health impacts attributed to refinery emissions.

BloombergNEF: US AI data centers to exceed Germany+Japan gas use by 2035

BloombergNEF now projects US data centers will consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined by 2035 — nearly double the firm's own forecast from nine months prior, driven by accelerating AI energy demand.

AI demand projected to add ~1M metric tons of GHG per day

Additional data center demand is projected to generate approximately 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution daily — roughly 12% of all current US greenhouse gas emissions.

Texas AG Paxton unveils anti-data center plan alongside Gov. Abbott

AG Ken Paxton announced a plan in late August 2026 to limit data center growth while keeping America competitive — joining Gov. Abbott in opposing an industry Paxton previously supported as a state senator when backing tax incentives.

Big tech pours $300M+ into 2026 midterms to counter data center backlash

In response to the anti-data center wave, tech companies and affiliated PACs have spent more than $300M on 2026 midterm races. Identified Texas spending includes Anthropic-linked entities ($2.6M+), OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman ($4.8M+), and Meta (~$1.4M).

Texas Politics Project poll: only 30% support a local data center

An August 2026 Texas Politics Project survey found only 30% of Texas respondents would support a data center in their community, providing state-level evidence corroborating the national 70% opposition figure from the May 2026 Gallup poll.

Republican candidates in 5+ states adopt anti-data center stance ahead of midterms

Reuters identified Republican candidates in at least five states — including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania — adopting tougher anti-data center rhetoric or proposing new restrictions, creating what the outlet describes as a 'new fault line within the party' pitting pro-growth instincts against affordability-focused populism.

New York enacts first US statewide data center moratorium

Gov. Hochul signed a 1-year moratorium in July 2026 barring new data centers requiring more than 50 megawatts; projects with all required permits already in place are unaffected. Hochul framed it as establishing clear rules to protect ratepayers and small communities.

Ohio Gov. DeWine pauses tax exemptions after $1.4B cost overrun

DeWine paused data center tax exemption requests in May 2026 after the breaks cost $1.4B more than projected in 2025. Ohio has 200+ data centers and $27B in 2025 capital investment; the pause is not a ban on development but a freeze on new exemption approvals pending legislative review.

Oregon's Kotek shifts from expanding tax breaks to supporting moratoriums

Gov. Kotek initially expanded tax breaks then backed a yearlong moratorium on enterprise zone programs after backlash despite 71% of Oregonians reporting negative views of data centers. She now supports local moratoriums and a review of tax break generosity; Data Center Advisory Committee to report findings in September 2026.

Arizona 3-year tax exemption moratorium costs ~$38M/year to state

Gov. Hobbs' 3-year moratorium on data center tax exemptions was part of a bipartisan $18.3B budget deal. The exemptions previously cost Arizona ~$38M annually and have drawn sustained criticism; the moratorium redirects funds toward border security, water security, and middle-class tax credits.