AI 기업들이 신규 데이터센터 건설에 대한 현지 반대가 커짐에 따라 정치적 캠페인과 로비 활동에 2억5,600만 달러를 배정하고 있다.

Artificial intelligence companies are intensifying their lobbying efforts to ensure data centers are built nationwide, even as both major political parties express skepticism toward them. According to an Economist/YouGov poll, only 14 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of Republicans view new data centers positively. This growing controversy stems from concerns over soaring electricity costs and the strain these facilities place on local water supplies.

The tension is evident in cities like Denver, where residents are already facing drought restrictions. Following reports that some proposed facilities could consume up to 800,000 gallons of water daily, the Denver city council suspended approvals for new data centers.

President Donald Trump remains the sole prominent political figure actively championing the industry. On Monday, he took to Truth Social to defend the infrastructure, writing: “The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.” His endorsement has complicated matters for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

Facing intense public pushback, AI firms have shifted to a political offensive. The five largest technology companies—Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle—are injecting millions into what is already a record-setting midterm election cycle for corporate spending.

One super PAC, Leading the Future, has raised $140 million to fund pro-data center candidates across both parties, according to Reuters. Financial disclosures show that the influential venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz contributed $50 million, while OpenAI president Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, donated a combined $25 million, as reported by the Federal Election Commission. Meanwhile, supporters aligned with Anthropic have allocated $40 million through the nonprofit Public First Action, which maintains a $100 million reserve. Elon Musk’s super PAC holds a comparable amount. Additionally, Meta is connected to multiple PACs holding tens of millions in election funds. Altogether, these contributions bring the total to a record-breaking $265 million directed toward the midterms.

“The moral of the story is, trying to bypass communities in developing these data centers is not working, and they’re going to take it to the polls,” Nicol Turner Lee, director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings, told The Independent.