Massive new data centers are the physical foundation for tech companies’ hopes and dreams for AI. But the rush to expand warehouses full of energy-hungry servers has also kicked up fights across the world over their impact on power grids, utility bills, nearby communities, and the environment.

Data centers were a major bipartisan issue ahead of the 2026 midterms , and voters largely opposed data center expansion at the polls. Tech giants like OpenAI and Amazon are promising to work more closely with local communities and cover their data center energy costs. But following the election, Democratic leaders are calling for further data center restrictions and slowdowns that the AI companies will have to grapple with.

From audacious plans about data centers into space , heated local battles over buildouts , and potential environmental impacts , here’s The Verge ’s news, coverage, and reporting surrounding data centers and the companies that are building them.

“We are a data center first company,” AMD CEO Lisa Su says.

Democrat projected to win Ohio seat that Republicans warned could spell trouble for data centers.

OpenAI pitches data center power plants as a way to protect nearby areas

Prop 45 in California could be hiding a loophole for data centers

Trump says paying communities a “dividend” could make data centers more popular.

A bipartisan bill aims to hold data centers accountable for their energy use.

A Japanese real estate company is building a data center in an underground tunnel.

If a data center is camouflaged in the woods, will anyone hate it?

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