Data centre expansion has emerged as a contentious political issue ahead of November's US midterm elections, with both Republicans and Democrats opposing new facility development despite strong backing from President Donald Trump.
The global data centre population has grown sharply to approximately 12,250 sites, up from around 8,000 operational facilities in 2021. The US leads with 4,767 data centres, followed by Europe, with the UK and Germany most densely clustered. China ranks second in total computing capacity, while Europe lags significantly behind. These facilities, which house the advanced computer chips and servers powering AI services like ChatGPT and Claude, are expanding rapidly in size and scope.
The world's largest operational data centre is run by China Telecom in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, covering approximately one million square metres. New facilities under construction are considerably larger. Colossus 2, part of Elon Musk's xAI infrastructure, will house hundreds of thousands of Nvidia AI chips and will be powered partly by 41 methane gas turbines. Activists warn the turbines could "significantly increase" local air pollution, though local regulators say they will meet air quality standards.
Environmental and resource concerns are driving public backlash. Data centres worldwide consume more electricity than all of France, analysis shows, while consuming significant water for cooling systems that could trigger local shortages. The growing energy demand is raising carbon emissions and straining local power grids, some experts warn.
Sixteen US states have proposed laws to ban or temporarily block new facilities. Opposition has also emerged in Mexico, France, Indonesia and the UK. Trump has dismissed the resistance as a "sick conspiracy," even as public anger intensifies.
Industry supporters argue data centres are critical for national security and AI development, attracting investment, generating tax revenue and creating jobs in construction and related sectors. A Brookings Center report found that hyperscale facilities owned by tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft create more local jobs than smaller "colocation" facilities that lease space to remote tenants.
Tech industry spending on AI infrastructure is expected to reach $765 billion in 2026 and top $1 trillion the following year. Some companies are exploring alternatives, including placing data centres in space or on the Moon to harness solar energy, or shifting more AI processing to hardware already embedded in consumer devices.