As local communities push back against data center development through ballot measures and zoning restrictions, experts say federal intervention may ultimately determine where and how quickly AI infrastructure gets built. The federal government could try to preempt local data center bans in its effort to promote AI innovation, with precedent from similar fights over gas pipelines and long-distance power lines.
“In no event will the end of the day conclusion be that we don’t build data centers,” Bracewell’s Scott Segal told Bloomberg Law. “It’s too important.”
