Texas Governor Greg Abbott told ABC that AI companies have caused their own backlash by building data centers without coordinating with state or local governments. This marks a sharp reversal from just months ago, when Abbott championed Texas as the 'epicenter of AI development' and celebrated a $40 billion Google investment tied to tax breaks. Abbott recently imposed a moratorium on new data center projects, citing strain on the state's power grid.
futurism.com
· 2026-08-24
Local officials overseeing data center projects in Marshall, Michigan, Salix, Iowa, and Box Elder County, Utah, have reported credible death threats and safety concerns tied to their votes. Marshall's council faced threats after passing a building moratorium, Salix's leaders were threatened over a land annexation for a possible Google site, and a Utah commissioner now has police stationed at his home. NBC News reports this pattern is spreading nationally, with officials targeted regardless of how they vote on data center proposals.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-08-23
Ed Brady, CEO of the Home Builders Institute, says the rush to build AI data centers is pulling scarce skilled tradespeople away from residential construction. He notes the US already faces a shortage of roughly 300,000 skilled trades workers, and many of those still available are opting for data center jobs instead of homebuilding.
futurism.com
· 2026-08-23
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