Record data-center opposition blocks $130B in projects in Q1 2026
TL;DR
A study finds that the first quarter of 2026 saw at least 75 blocked or delayed data-center projects worth about $130 billion—the most in any three-month period since tracking began—driven by a surge in opposition groups (to 833 across 49 states) and a wave of regulatory proposals, including moratorium bills in 14 states and federal discussions, signaling a shift from incentives to oversight as AI energy demands grow.
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- Data center opponents have blocked or delayed projects worth nearly $130 billion in 2026, study finds NBC News
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