Twitter/X

On July 24, 2026, reporter Jasmine Sun (@jasminewsun) posted from a “data center…

2026-07-24 · 23:12 UTC ·@jasminewsun ·1 min read

Brief

Jasmine Sun (@jasminewsun) reports from a July 24, 2026 ‘data center road trip’ across Wisconsin and Michigan, finding local opposition driven less by fear of AI and more by perceptions of uselessness: secretive, NDA‑heavy deals and high costs, contrast with pro‑solar sentiment in places like Saline, MI, plus NIMBY tactics and few sympathetic AI proponents beyond billionaires and utilities.

Why it matters

On July 24, 2026, reporter Jasmine Sun (@jasminewsun) posted from a “data center road trip // day 6–7,” driving around Wisconsin and Michigan and interviewing tradespeople, activists, planners, and residents about the data center buildout and local backlash.

Key details

  • In Saline, MI, activists were pro‑solar but anti‑data center: Sun reports data center deals are more secretive with NDAs and larger dollar amounts, and unlike solar (which generates power), data centers consume power—shaping local opposition.
  • Sun and @nicholas_bagley say the backlash follows classic NIMBY playbooks (Facebook groups, FOIA requests, packing city council) and that AI/data centers lack a broad sympathetic pro‑faction—only tech billionaires and utility companies are openly excited.
Source evidence

data center road trip // day 6-7

I don't think the data center backlash is about AI being evil or risky — but it does reflect people finding AI uniquely useless

for example: is the data center backlash just like the backlash to solar farms? @nicholas_bagley observed that both movements use classic NIMBY playbooks: Facebook groups, FOIA requests, packing city council. both also involve land use tensions between rural towns and state directives.

yet the Saline, MI activists I met were pro-solar farms and anti-data center. first, data center deals are more secretive with more NDAs and bigger $$ amounts. second, solar was supported by environmentalists even if hated by farmers: it generates power instead of consuming it

it seems pretty clear that AI lacks a strong pro faction or positive case. plenty of folks are agnostic on data centers, and plenty hate them, but the only people truly excited are tech billionaires and utility companies — the least sympathetic entities you could have on your side

jasmine sun (@jasminewsun)

I’m spending the next week driving around Wisconsin and Michigan to get a firsthand view of the data center buildout and backlash

am visiting sites, talking to tons of people — tradespeople, activists, planners, residents — then writing up a story

lmk what questions I should dig into!

— https://nitter.net/jasminewsun/status/2077519592130253200#m