Data center headed your way? This tool lets you see where the candidates stand.

Tool Tracks Candidates’ Positions on Data Center Projects Nationwide

A new online dashboard developed by the NAACP and Young, Gifted & Green allows users to review candidates’ stated positions on data center development and related environmental issues ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The platform, titled “Climate on Your Ballot,” incorporates data on 1,727 data centers across the United States and lets registered voters enter an address to view local races, candidate responses on environmental topics, and nearby projects.

The organizations describe the resource as a means for residents to request answers from candidates who have not yet responded. A lack of response does not indicate a candidate’s position. The tool also maps existing and proposed data centers and summarizes policies that affect their siting and operation.

Data center construction has accelerated with private investment exceeding hundreds of billions of dollars, driven by demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity. Utilities in multiple states have reported plans to expand generation and transmission infrastructure to meet projected load growth. Industry representatives have stated that facilities can generate property tax revenue and, in some cases, direct payments to local governments, while creating construction and maintenance employment.

Local cases and competing claims

In Walterboro, South Carolina, residents reached a settlement that restricts data center construction in portions of an ecologically sensitive area. A separate gas-fired power plant proposed to supply electricity to data centers remains under development in a majority-Black section of the county. County officials have cited anticipated tax receipts and job creation as reasons for supporting the power project.

In Clarksdale, Mississippi, Black residents filed suit challenging a rezoning action that permitted consideration of a data center. The complaint alleges insufficient public notice. City officials have pointed to potential employment and tax revenue as benefits, while some residents have questioned effects on water and electricity systems.

In Richland Parish, Louisiana, state regulators permitted Meta to maintain confidentiality over detailed job and electricity-use projections for a large data center project. The state has approved additional fossil fuel infrastructure to support the facility. Local officials have referenced economic development goals, while some residents have expressed concern about displacement and job distribution.

In Memphis, Tennessee, the NAACP filed suit against xAI alleging operation of 27 gas turbines in neighboring Southaven, Mississippi, without required air permits. The complaint states that emissions could affect air quality in nearby communities. xAI has not publicly detailed its response in available records.

In Alabama and Georgia, utilities have implemented rate adjustments tied to infrastructure upgrades. Some households have reported difficulty meeting higher bills. Data center operators have noted that facilities often pay industrial rates and contribute to system-wide revenue.

Nationwide, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to air-permit procedures that would remove certain federal public-notice requirements and allow limited construction before final permit approval. Supporters of the changes argue they reduce administrative delays for energy and industrial projects. Opponents contend the changes limit opportunities for public input on emissions.

Use of the dashboard

Users access the platform through the NAACP’s Climate on Your Ballot page. After entering an address and selecting “See my ballot,” participants can view candidate replies on environmental questions and send requests for responses. The site also displays mapped data centers and summaries of state and local policies governing their approval.

The organizations behind the tool have stated that decisions about data center siting and energy infrastructure affect electricity costs, water use, and local air quality. Developers and utilities have maintained that projects undergo regulatory review and can deliver measurable fiscal returns to host jurisdictions. The dashboard does not include candidate statements on economic benefits or infrastructure financing unless those statements were submitted through the platform.

Voters can compare listed positions on environmental permitting, utility cost allocation, and land-use rules. No single source provides comprehensive data on every project’s net fiscal impact or employment outcomes.