The Politics of Data Center Opposition
NIMBYism Framing
How They Deceive You
Propaganda
Blends factual reporting with notable spin that frames data center opposition as NIMBYism while cherry-picking examples and omitting grid strain projections.
Main Device
NIMBYism Framing
Portrays local opposition to data centers as selfish 'Not In My Backyard' attitudes, downplaying legitimate concerns like utility costs and infrastructure demands.
Archetype
Paleoconservative anti-populist
Writes in The American Conservative to warn against rising anti-tech populism, defending data centers against local and political backlash.
This article deceives by framing data center opposition as irrational NIMBYism, cherry-picking local defeats, and overstating political reversals to undermine populist concerns.
Writer's Worldview
“Paleoconservative anti-populist”
6 findings · 2 omissions · 4 sources compared
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Narrative Analysis
Verdict: Scott Greer's piece in *The American Conservative* effectively highlights verified instances of local backlash against data centers, such as election defeats in Festus, Missouri, but mixes reporting with opinionated framing that dismisses concerns as mere NIMBYism while overstating some political reversals and leaving key infrastructure facts unmentioned.
Key Findings
- Blended reporting and opinion: The article presents factual events—like the ousting of four Festus city council members for approving a data center deal and a bullet-spraying incident at Indianapolis councilor Ron Gibson's home—as straight news, then pivots to editorial predictions of "anti-tech populism" dominating elections.
"Anti-tech backlash will be a major issue in the coming years."
- Unverified claim on referendum: States voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, "backed a referendum to prohibit future construction," but searches of local sources show discussions of a 2024 project without confirmation of approval.
- This amplifies the "surge of hostility" narrative without backing.
- Sensationalized causation: Describes the Indianapolis shooting as tied to data center support, citing a "No Data Centers" note, but police classify it as isolated and under investigation, with motive unconfirmed.
- Framing technique: Portrays opposition as shortsighted localism ("Americans are fine with them being built—so long as they’re not near their homes"), contrasting it with national economic needs, while quoting politicians like DeSantis and Hawley without noting their proposals include regulations (e.g., separate power sources) rather than outright bans.
- Cherry-picking anecdotes: Spotlights defeats and violence to forecast data centers as a "guaranteed" 2028 election flashpoint, but national polls (e.g., Quinnipiac) show pluralities favoring them for jobs/taxes amid electricity cost worries.
What Was Missing and Why It Matters
These omissions involve concrete, verifiable facts that provide balance on the scale and legitimacy of concerns:
- Grid strain projections: Data centers are forecast to consume nearly 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 (up from 4.4% in 2023), per EIA and Goldman Sachs reports cited in Axios. This validates utility cost fears in regions like PJM, beyond "quality of life" issues.
- Governors' nuanced positions: Claims Democratic governors like Shapiro, Pritzker, and Moore "abruptly reversed" on data centers; actually, they pushed for developers to fully fund grid upgrades (Axios Feb 2026 letter to PJM; NOTUS Jan 2026 on Shapiro/Moore backing Trump-era cost plans). This tempers the bipartisan "full opposition" impression.
Author and Outlet Context
Scott Greer is a columnist for *The American Conservative* (rated right by AllSides), known for opinion pieces on politics and culture (e.g., author of *No Campus for White Men*). His work aligns with the outlet's paleoconservative focus, blending analysis with provocative takes—no straight-news portfolio noted.
How Other Outlets Covered It Differently
- Washington Post (Jan 2026): Vivid, on-the-ground examples (e.g., Oklahoma parade floats, petitions) emphasize bipartisan local reshaping without predicting national populism or NIMBY dismissal.
- New York Times (Mar 2026): Business angle on electricity demands causing permit denials/tax withdrawals, focusing on buildout obstacles minus election drama.
- Heatmap News: Abstract political analysis of "techlash" as a generational force, highlighting electoral potential but fewer specifics.
- WLOS: Neutral roundup of U.S. trends (noise, land use, incentives) without political framing.
Bottom Line
The article shines in surfacing underreported local stories like Festus, credibly showing grassroots pushback. However, its opinion-editorial style risks misleading by underplaying grid realities and nuances in political stances, potentially framing valid infrastructure debates as irrational. Solid for paleocon readers seeking anti-tech angles, but cross-reference for fuller picture.
Further Reading
Investigation Log · 54 steps
Starting investigation...
Investigating The American Conservative
Investigating Scott Greer
Searching for ""Festus Missouri" data center election oust council"
Verify claim about voters ousting 4 incumbents in Festus MO over data center approval
Searching for ""Port Washington Wisconsin" data center referendum"
Verify referendum prohibiting data centers in Port Washington WI
Searching for "Indianapolis city councilor home shot data center"
Verify bullets sprayed at councilor's home over data center support
Searching for "Quinnipiac poll AI data centers oppose community"
Verify Quinnipiac poll 65% oppose AI centers in own communities
Source: The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a niche bimonthly magazine with a reported circulation of 5,000, published by the American Ideas Institute and based in Washington, D.C. It maintains transparency about its paleoconservative perspective through opinion-heavy articles and contributor bios, but its low circulation limits broad reach, and no independent fact-checking records appear in available data. Its incentives prioritize critiquing interventionist policies over neutral reporting, rooted in founders' opposition to neoconservatism and the 2002 Iraq War.
Source: Scott Greer
Scott Greer is a columnist for The American Conservative, described as an 'award-winning journalist,' author of *No Campus for White Men*, host of the 'Highly Respected' podcast, and Substack operator. His output consists primarily of opinion columns on U.S. politics, culture, and foreign policy, with no evidence of straight-news reporting, investigative work, or third-party fact-checking. As a paid contributor to a niche conservative outlet, his incentives align with provocative takes to engage that audience rather than neutral analysis.
Searching for "Festus Missouri data center council approval election"
Follow-up verify Festus MO data center deal approval and voters ousting incumbents
Searching for ""Port Washington" Wisconsin data center referendum results"
Verify if voters backed referendum to prohibit data centers
Searching for ""Harvard MIT poll" data centers OR "AI data centers" opposition"
Verify Harvard/MIT poll on data centers, primary concern quality of life
Searching for "polls support data centers abstract OR national"
Verify claims that polls show plurality support data centers abstractly but oppose locally
Searching for "Josh Hawley Richard Blumenthal bill data centers energy costs"
Verify Hawley bill with Blumenthal to stop data centers raising energy costs
Searching for "Democratic governors reverse data centers Shapiro Pritzker Moore"
Verify three Dem governors reversed efforts to attract data centers
Comparing coverage of "data center opposition local elections backlash"
Coverage comparison completed
Source Credibility
Article presented by opinion columnist Scott Greer in paleoconservative outlet The American Conservative as reported news, blending facts with editorial analysis warning against anti-data center populism.
Readers may mistake opinionated framing for neutral reporting, especially since outlet is explicitly paleoconservative and author focuses on provocative conservative takes.
unverified_claim
"Voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, backed a referendum to prohibit future construction of the centers in their town."
This is presented as a key example of backlash; if unverified, it inflates the surge of opposition without evidence.
Framing
Frames local opposition as NIMBYism ("unwanted disturbance," voters like property tax cutters ignoring infrastructure), while downplaying valid concerns like utility spikes and portraying politicians' opposition as vote-grabbing without national interest.
Dismisses bipartisan local concerns as shortsighted, pushing pro-growth narrative that restrictions "strangle America’s own development" and benefit China.
Missing Context
Governors Shapiro, Pritzker, and Moore did not "abruptly reverse their efforts to attract data centers"; they advocated for data centers to bear full grid upgrade costs rather than passing to consumers, while still engaging on the issue.
Overstates Democratic shift as full opposition rather than cost accountability, altering perception of bipartisan political realignment.
Cherry-Picking
Highlights local election defeats and violence to predict "anti-tech populism will be all the rage" nationally, while noting polls show only plurality national support and local opposition.
Extrapolates from anecdotes (Festus, Indy shooting) to claim data centers "guaranteed" 2028 issue, few defenders; ignores counter-coverage of ongoing approvals and negotiations.
Searching for "Ron DeSantis data centers restrict Florida announcement"
Verify DeSantis quote and desire to restrict data centers
Searching for "Ro Khanna Pete Buttigieg AOC opposition data centers"
Verify Dem politicians' opposition
Searching for ""Port Washington Wisconsin" data center referendum results 2026 OR 2024 OR 2025"
Final check if voters backed prohibition in Port Washington WI referendum
Searching for "Tucker Carlson bomb data centers"
Verify Tucker Carlson comment on bombing data centers
Searching for "data centers US electricity consumption projection"
Context on energy concerns validity
unverified_claim
"An Indianapolis city councilor’s home was sprayed with bullets over the lawmaker’s support for data centers." Accurate but sensationalized as motive proven; police investigating as isolated.
Implies direct causation from data center support, though note found, motive unconfirmed.
Missing Context
Data centers are projected to account for nearly 12% of US electricity demand by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023, straining grids in regions like PJM.
Validates local concerns over utility costs beyond NIMBYism, as article downplays by focusing on quality of life.
Source Credibility
Quotes from DeSantis and Hawley presented without noting their political ambitions or that bills aim to regulate rather than ban data centers.
Creates impression of full opposition without nuance that politicians seek regulations/benefits for locals.
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