The “Digital gateway” case is the latest win for anti-data-center proponents and the latest blow for those on the other side of the fence. We recently covered a report that more than 75 data center build-outs worth $130 billion have been successfully blocked in the first Q1 2026, although several others have moved forward. While data centers are needed to power AI’s exponential growth, their development often raises valid concerns about water use , noise pollution, and spikes in electricity bills for nearby residential areas . There has been an uptick in protests against data centers and a corresponding rise in companies pursuing innovative solutions to the problem. SpaceX is currently building an 11-million-square-foot Gigasat factory to manufacture orbital data centers, while several companies are deploying offshore data centers . On the other hand, there are reports that China may be artificially stoking opposition to data centers in the U.S. , even as Trump's administration is pushing for AI development.
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Etiido Uko is a news contributor for Tom's Hardware covering the latest updates in big tech and the PC industry. He is a mechanical engineer and senior technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things engineering and technology, and is an expert in gadgets, manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and aerospace. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-25/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Etiido Uko Social Links Navigation News Contributor Etiido Uko is a news contributor for Tom's Hardware covering the latest updates in big tech and the PC industry. He is a mechanical engineer and senior technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things engineering and technology, and is an expert in gadgets, manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and aerospace.
bit_user The article said: The newspaper notices publicizing the hearing at which the project was approved weren’t separated by at least 6 days, as mandated by state and local codes at that time, thereby invalidating the hearing and the resulting approval. This might sound like a technicality, but we've heard of cases where zoning boards approve datacenters at the end of very poorly-publicized meeting, not giving the public a chance to weigh-in. So, I wouldn't be that dismissive of the need for proper public notice, or presume that it was simply due to an innocent mistake. Reply
PEnns "….“While we still believe this project offered significant benefits for the region and our neighbors," The warm, selfless, kind-hardheartedness of those Tech Bros and their shills at the pre-bought zoning boards is breath-taking! Reply
-Fran- Some good news, for sure. Find the ways to fight back and use them. Regards. Reply
alan.campbell99 What soaring demand? OpenAI and Anthropic use over 80% of the available compute while Nvidia is backstopping neocloud's excess capacity. Meta now abandoning their ambitions and instead will rent their compute. You can't have two overweight people on a bus taking up most of the seating and then claim there's high demand for mass transit. Reply
AnInternetUser Good. A lot of people are tired of what AI is doing. It's affecting water prices, electricity prices, land prices, PC part prices, and I bet that's not all. Reply
jrhoburton This is wrong. The largest proposed AI data center in the world, by far, is the Stratos project in Box Elder county in NW Utah. Between 30-40,000 acres depending on who is talking. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/blackstone-owned-qts-abandons-planned-worlds-largest-data-center-campus-after-years-of-lawsuits-2-100-acre-virginia-digital-gateway-project-dies-over-a-newspaper-notice-technicality#main
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.