Data center health worries are animating midterm campaigns across swing states, with residents in Page, Arizona, mobilizing against a proposed $10 billion facility amid fears of pollution and health risks.
The City Council approved the sale of 500 acres for the project, but developers still require zoning and environmental approvals. Doug Herrera, 64, voiced concerns about light, sound, and temperature pollution that could impact his health near the proposed site, which sits close to Horseshoe Bend.
Data centers are dividing communities, where the facilities are often located. Environmental studies link air pollution from backup diesel generators to heart conditions, respiratory issues, and cancer risks. Researchers at UC-Riverside project emissions could cause nearly 1,300 deaths annually by 2030 and a $20 billion public health burden in 2028.
Cooling systems may release forever chemicals into the environment, while constant generator noise exceeds 90 decibels, potentially harming hearing. Light pollution from 24/7 operations could also contribute to chronic disease, according to advocacy groups.
In Arizona, a tight race for the 1st Congressional District has turned the issue into a campaign flashpoint. GOP candidate Jay Feely, backed by President Trump, supports data centers as critical for countering China, while Democrat Amish Shah wants a pause on new construction in their district.
Health Concerns Drive Opposition
Opponents point to noise, air, and water pollution as risks. A UC-Riverside study highlights nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel generators, which can travel miles and affect downwind communities. Cooling system chemicals, heavy metals, and construction runoff threaten water supplies, while “data heat islands” raise local temperatures.
“We’re just starting to see the very early edge of the wave of the research into health impacts of data centers,” said Alison Steele, executive director of the Environmental Health Project, a nonprofit public health organization. “By the time we have a substantial volume of research it’s going to be too late, because the decisions are being made now.”
The Data Center Coalition counters that Virginia’s regulations limit emissions, noting minimal backup generator use. Executive Dan Diorio emphasized operators’ commitment to responsible practices.
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Political Fallout in Red States
The issue is reshaping races in traditionally Republican strongholds. In Ohio, over a dozen local referendums on data centers will appear on ballots, complicating GOP Sen. Jon Husted’s re-election bid. Democrat Sherrod Brown has branded him “the face of data centers,” accusing the facilities of devouring farmland and water resources.
A Republican memo described the issue as Husted’s greatest vulnerability, noting it overshadows other campaign challenges. While he frames data centers as a local decision, he now seeks infrastructure cost reimbursement from operators.
Two in 3 Americans oppose the construction of new data centers in the U.S., according to an October Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. Such political standoffs are happening largely in states that Trump won in 2024, where most new data center capacity has been proposed.
Grassroots Opposition Challenges GOP Support in Data Center Expansion
Lee Hannah, a political science professor, noted that opposition has emerged rapidly, pressuring officials who previously supported such projects. “Decisions made a year ago by local officials or state governments to get behind a data center are suddenly career-ending,” she said, highlighting shifting political risks for Republican leaders.
Hannah explained that data centers often locate in predominantly Republican regions, where economic promises align with GOP priorities. However, rising public health concerns and opposition polls—such as 57% in Arizona opposing new facilities—threaten traditional support. Photos of politicians at new events, once celebratory, are now reused in campaign attacks as evidence of past endorsements.
Political Fallout Intensifies in Red States
Rural strongholds, where these projects proliferate, are witnessing unexpected political pressure. Ohio’s Senate race exemplifies this shift, with Democrat Sherrod Brown targeting Sen. Jon Husted as “the face of data centers” through aggressive campaign ads.
Economic Arguments Clash with Health Fears
Ohio’s $2.5 billion in state and local tax breaks over the past decade attracted Meta, Amazon, and Google, spurring protests over environmental and financial impacts. Residents argue these projects prioritize corporate profits over community well-being.
