The reality is this discussion is complicated. But just like with housing, Blue states are shootings themselves in the foot here. Are some poor quality data centers loud, light polluting, water damaging, energy guzzlers? Yes - when made as cheaply as possible with no regulation. But thry *CAN* be made to: -Use recycled/wastewater, closed water systems or non-water cooling systems. -Respect bylaws on light and noise pollution (they can be dark and silent, it’s just a cost) -Require solar roofs that offset electrical and sell excess to the grid -Pay special local levy taxes that invest in the community -Require set quotas of local hiring The reality is data centers are coming. They bring good paying blue collar and white collar jobs to communities anywhere in the US. The Democratic response is to just hit pause or blanket ban things that are new. This just means these data centers will get built in Red states that don’t care about standards and so it will still end up hurting the environment. The right play is: -Set local bylaws and policies that raise the standard on data centers. -Set laws and regulations that remove the largest community environmental concern (water contamination) -Get good paying jobs and local investment in rural parts of blue states -Rebuild the blue middle class in rural America. The impulse of trying to stop progress (especially at a state level) and ban what we don’t like, is the worst trait of the Democratic Party, *especially* when there is a path to have your cake and eat it to through nuanced policy. But since America only reads headlines they want “yes or no” instead of policy takes.(Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth))