Data center backlash

Business · Heat 1.2 / 10 · 2 shows · 8m airtime

On October 7, 2026, Data Center Watch data cited on Closing Bell counted at least 75 data center projects worth roughly $130 billion blocked or delayed in the first quarter, followed by 45 in the second, against 571 US data centers at the end of Q1 and 2,000 in planning. Anthropic's S-1 has since listed nationwide data center opposition as a growth risk and says the company is seeking capacity outside the US. The discussion is whether political will, not capital, is the binding constraint on the build-out.

How 2 podcasts covered it

1. Closing Bell, 2026-10-07 (20:15 to 27:18)
   Interviews a CEO on data center pushback
   Interviews Walker & Dunlop's CEO on the local pushback against data centers and the multifamily refinancing wall: at least 75 projects worth roughly $130 billion blocked or delayed in Q1 and 45 in Q2, against 2,000 in planning and $800 billion of hyperscaler spend.
   New angle: At least 75 data center projects worth roughly $130 billion were blocked or delayed in Q1, and 45 in Q2.
2. The Journal., 2026-10-21 (15:17 to 16:38)
   Reads data center backlash from Anthropic's risk factors
   Reads the data center backlash out of Anthropic's risk factors: the S-1 names nationwide opposition as a growth risk, and the company is looking for capacity outside the U.S. and making voluntary payments to communities, both of which raise costs.
   New angle: Anthropic's S-1 lists nationwide data center opposition as a growth risk and says it is seeking capacity outside the U.S.