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AI data centre expansion in the US is increasingly facing local resistance over power use and infrastructure strain, mirroring opposition that previously slowed Bitcoin mining growth.
According to the latest Miner Mag newsletter, communities that once pushed back against crypto mining are now raising similar concerns as hyperscalers race to deploy power-hungry AI facilities.
“Across the country, local governments and residents are no longer waiting passively for assurances that AI infrastructure will be different,”
Miner Mag wrote.
The publication said resistance is growing in states including Texas, Georgia, Illinois and Mississippi, where officials are questioning electricity demand, environmental impact and long-term costs.
Miner Mag cited industry data showing roughly $64 billion in US data centre projects have been delayed or blocked as a result of local opposition.
In response, companies such as Microsoft and OpenAI are shifting toward community-focused strategies, with OpenAI pledging to cover its own energy-related costs.
The trend echoes the Bitcoin mining sector, where firms including Hut 8, MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, TeraWulf and HIVE Digital Technologies have increasingly pivoted toward AI and high-performance computing workloads after the 2024 Bitcoin halving.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $89,130.13.