AI advocacy group launches data center initiative in battleground states

The Data Center Coalition, led by President Josh Levi, has been rolling out its America Connects initiative since 2024, planting flags in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Georgia with localized campaigns. Think “Connected Georgia” and “Pennsylvania Connects,” each tailored to make the case that data centers are economic engines, not energy-guzzling eyesores. The opposition is not small By mid-2026, roughly 525,000 people had joined hundreds of local opposition groups spanning more than 40 states. The resistance hit a symbolic peak on July 18, 2026, when organizers pulled off a coordinated national day of protest featuring 142 events across 42 states. Georgia alone saw 11 protests on a single day. The grievances are specific and varied: energy consumption, water usage, noise pollution, tax incentives that feel lopsided, and electricity costs getting passed to ratepayers who never asked for a server farm next door. Approximately 70% of voters in areas affected by proposed data center developments oppose these facilities. The industry’s counter-strategy The America Connects campaign has expanded its reach to include Texas and Ohio alongside its earlier state efforts. The play...