Data centre backlash is a problem for Trump’s Republicans

Data centers. Development is exploding across Ohio. A growing problem for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. Does he have a data center in his backyard? Why should I have to have one in my backyard? It's a no-brainer. I voted for Trump. Am I happy with Trump? It is what it is. Trump wants more data centers full steam ahead, despite pushback from voters. funnels money to the owners of big tech companies that are beholden to Donald Trump and his fascist agenda. The more close they get, the more uncomfortable it is. In a battleground state, the issue looms over a tight election race, one that could determine control of the U.S. Senate. Senator, can we just ask, do you have to distance yourself from your message from Donald Trump on data centers? No. Central Ohio, the so-called Silicon Valley of the Midwest. Sprawling compounds, housing technology that powers modern convenience and artificial intelligence. Operations that can stress local power and water supplies, triggering a ripple effect. In some cases, the strain leads to higher energy costs passed on to local residents, while the landscape is altered forever. Look at this neighbourhood, for example. It's about a dozen homes 30 minutes outside of Columbus. Originally, it was surrounded by farmland. From above, you can see that's just a memory now. Data center creep means this community is nearly surrounded, alarming some of the people who live here, says Carmen Hagemeyer. I just feel stuck. It feels like there should be some laws against them being right up on us because no amount of buffering is really going to hide it. We have really old, tall trees, but you're still going to see a 30-foot building in our horizon versus a nice blue sky that we have. Hagemeyer says construction started without much community consultation. It's been incredibly disruptive and she's worried about the long-term impacts. So right now it's just a burden. There's been no benefit. They're just inconveniencing us. Development is moving quickly. State tax incentives have attracted some $40 billion in private investment. Advocates supporting data centres say it's helped support more than 90,000 direct and indirect jobs. The pace of growth upending daily life. This is what's become of quiet rural communities. They've been transformed into these loud and active construction zones. The roads in many places, they're torn up, they're hard to navigate. And then if you listen, there's the noise. It's nearly constant, neighbours say. It's not the kind of thing they signed up for when they moved out to places like this. I'm disgusted. You know, my husband and I worked very hard to buy this beautiful house in this beautiful neighborhood. And now I feel like they are taking that away from me. Sherry Farringer also says she was not told about data center plans when she moved into this community about a year ago, some 40 minutes south of Columbus. About 800 feet from where we're standing will be the closest of 15 data center buildings totaling over 3 million square feet with diesel generators, industrial lighting and a constant home. She's worried about long-term impacts. Will it affect her health, the local environment? Will her energy bills go up? Is the water supply in danger? I am scared. I don't know what it's going to do physically, emotionally, financially. I'm not wealthy, I can't afford to abandon my house or take a loss on it, I don't know what we're going to do. The closer one and this is the farther one, where did you get these plans from? I did a public records request for those, okay to fight back, Barringer, a liberal Democrat has teamed up with an unlikely ally, Amanda Wasmus a conservative Republican. I met Sherry because she shares the the same passion. How how do we get this to stop? I mean, we all moved here thinking this was rural America and that is slowly slipping away. I have opened up and talked to people that, you know, maybe in the past I wouldn't have talked to, but we're all fighting the same fight. Will the data center issue, will that affect how you vote for Senate? I feel like I've made up my mind, but it's not totally set in stone yet. Wasmus is being vague on purpose, She later gave us permission to report that she doesn't plan to vote Republican. She says she's afraid to come out and say it because she fears backlash from fellow Conservatives. It's a no-brainer. I voted for Trump. Am I happy with Trump? It is what it is. I voted for him, but I could care less at this point. Deep feelings dominate this debate, not just in Ohio, but across the U.S. At local town hall planning meetings, public confrontations are not unusual. It's so contentious that nonpartisan advocates are putting on workshops to help local officials better navigate anger toward the proposed developments. Can you describe the emotion and what you heard from people that lived in your community? They were scared. It was fear of the unknown. Data centers have been around forever, since way back when. but not on this type of scale that we're seeing today. Ohio's electric grid. Big corporations treat it like a game. Democrats tapped into those fears early in the campaign with a series of attack ads against Republicans. John Huston, who's he really working for? Mr. President. Helping make their case. Frankly, I want them built in America. Donald Trump's continued enthusiastic support of data centers and AI. S.I. instead of A.I. You know what that means? Superintelligence. He insulted critics by saying communities risk becoming backwards and poor if they oppose data centers. Is this Athens County with the turnout like this? It's put Senator Jon Husted, the Republican incumbent running for re-election, in an uncomfortable position. I hear what people are saying. They don't want to pay more for electricity if the data center comes to town. The backlash has forced Husted to pivot and adapt to acknowledge the anger even if his supporters think it's overblown. Are you concerned it could hurt the Republican candidate here? That I don't know, but I think there are people who would oppose, you know, apple pie if Donald Trump left. I think if data centers are our biggest problem in this country, we're in pretty good shape. I recognize the senator from Ohio. But there are clear signs Husted is worried. The Ratepayer Protection Act. He proposed a bill to make tech companies responsible for higher energy costs. A way to fight accusations he and the president are too pro-data center. Senator, can we just ask, do you have to distance yourself from your message from Donald Trump on data centers? No, I just have to tell people the truth. The bill didn't make it through the Senate. He blames Democrats and says his effort alone demonstrates he's on side with public opinion. This issue has really flipped for us well in the last couple weeks because after they learned that the Democrats are blocking us from holding data centers accountable, it really has kind of backfired on them. Former and future senator. I'm so appreciative that you're here. There's a lot of energy around this state. We're to meet and greet with Sherrod Brown. He's right there. He's the Democrat running for Senate in Ohio and he's trying to flip this seat from the Republicans. Some in this crowd think he might have an advantage in this race because of all of the pushback against data centers. Areas that Trump carried in southwestern Ohio where they put data centers in, his popularity has dropped. Does he have a data center in his backyard? No, he does not. Precisely. He doesn't want them in his backyard. Why should I have to have one in my backyard? Brown is leading in the polls, but the race is still considered a toss-up with data centers at the forefront. What do you make of Donald Trump with his position being unfettered rules around AI and pushing for more data centers? That's just, I'm not a pundit. I know what I'm hearing people in Ohio say. And they don't want these data centers in their community without community input. Whichever way this race goes, in the communities where development is well underway, people are trying to adapt as best they can. While others are trying to get out. Carmen Hagemeyer fears her family won't be able to leave. Our anxiety comes from, like, we can't replace this. The market prices now is kind of, like, unobtainable. So I just feel stuck. Hagemeyer is a conservative Republican, and she's still making up her mind about who she will support in the midterms and will take many issues into account. But in a polarized America, the fact that she's still even thinking about it suggests the base of support Republicans have relied on may not be as enthusiastic this go-round.