CHRIS JOHNSON: The data center boom is rescuing forgotten American towns

What happened: Data centers are drawing political opposition ahead of the midterms, with some politicians calling for construction moratoriums or bans, while the article argues communities are already seeing tax, school, and job benefits from the developments. Key numbers: Ellendale, North Dakota collected about Why it matters: The article says blocking development would cost communities the tax revenue, school funding, and trade jobs they are gaining, and that predictable data center electricity demand can help finance new generation and spread infrastructure costs across more customers.

Data centers are drawing political opposition ahead of the midterms, with some politicians calling for construction moratoriums or bans, while the article argues communities are already seeing tax, school, and job benefits from the developments.

The article says blocking development would cost communities the tax revenue, school funding, and trade jobs they are gaining, and that predictable data center electricity demand can help finance new generation and spread infrastructure costs across more customers.