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Data centers have become a major issue in the Nov. 3 midterm elections in the US. While federal regulation on limiting new build is a longshot due to President Donald Trump’s opposition, states may still use their control over power markets and permitting rules to respond to popular backlash. BNEF's Lead US Policy Analyst, Derrick Flakoll joins to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)

Microsoft is expected to spend nearly $190 billion on ramping up AI—mostly on data center construction—this calendar year.

Yes, you read that right

New moratoriums and restrictions would threaten the sector that is powering the AI boom.

The AI boom is pitting local residents against corporate giants seeking to power their energy-hungry networks – but one Welsh city is fighting back Dale Johnston opens the gate to his neat suburban garden on the western fringes of Newport in South Wales. There’s a trampoline and a slide on the lawn for his grandchildren, and chairs for him and his wife. He should be enjoying the light draining from the perfect autumnal sky – but almost his entire view is blotted out by a vast expanse of prefabricated panels. The 23 metre-high grey hulk looming over him and his neighbours is a hyperscale datacentre. It is heralded by the area’s Labour politicians as a job creator, yet all Johnston can think about is what he has lost: “Before, the sun used to come around here and it was lovely.” The way residents have been treated is “disgusting”. Continue reading...

A new CNBC survey finds broad voter opposition to nearby AI data centers, creating a political challenge for Trump and Republicans ahead of the midterm election.

The tech super giant – continuing its expansion of the booming artificial intelligence industry – cleared 816 acres of woodlands in Northern Finland, the Guardian reported Thursday.

This week, campaign costs are soaring, but democratic fundraiser Blair Effron of Centerview Partners says many races may already have reached the point where more money stops making much difference. And, even though most Americans dislike the proliferation of data centers, one community has welcomed them with open arms. Plus, the key difference Mistral hopes will set it apart in the global AI race. Later, Argentina President Milei brought inflation down and investment up, but its led to a fragmented economy one year out from an election. (Source: Bloomberg)

The AI spending boom has raised red flags with investors this week.

Global data center spending is expected to hit $1 trillion in 2026 and more than double to $2.1 trillion by 2028, BofA Global Research estimated in a note on Friday, driven by growing demand for and development of AI services. Data center spending has been a fast-growing...

The operator of the social media platform in the U.S. has sounded out opportunities to obtain capacity over the coming years.

Governments and businesses around the globe are scrambling to contain the fallout after the PHP vulnerabilities leaked online.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Article URL: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/10/22/ai-compute-is-the-new-oil-and-needs-a-new-market Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50202671 Points: 22 # Comments: 12

Crusoe announced a partnership with Paraguayan developer Araico to build artificial intelligence data centers powered by the Itaipu hydroelectric dam.

AI continues to dominate American business growth. In TIME’s and Statista’s second annual ranking of America’s Growth Leaders—which highlights the top performing publicly listed companies in the U.S.— Nvidia retains its top ranking from 2025. Methodology: How TIME and Statista Determined America's Growth Leaders of 2027 Comfort Systems USA (no. 2), which provides mechanical, electrical, and HVAC services for commercial properties, has seen the data center portion of its business drive growth significantly in recent years . “Advanced technology, dominated by data center work, increased to 56% of our revenue, and advanced technology remains the largest driver of pipeline and backlog,” COO Trent McKenna said in an earnings call in April . Comfort Systems has especially benefitted from having established businesses in Tier 2 cities where data centers tend to be built. In July, the company reported a 50% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year. It’s not the only company providing essential parts for data centers; Howmet (no. 6), known for making engine parts for planes, has been experiencing growing demand for making blades and vanes for the gas turbines used in data centers as a result of the AI boom. Energy infrastructure provider Argan (no. 5) has also capitalized on the AI wave by providing power services as well as solutions for energy storage to data center projects. The growing demands of AI are also helping fuel a mining renaissance in America , to supply the critical minerals needed in AI data centers , for batteries and grid technology , and more. Earlier in 2026, the Trump Administration announced that it was launching a domestic critical minerals stockpile as a part of Project Vault . Idaho Strategic Resources (no. 3), was one mineral mining and exploration company whose stocks saw a bump as a result of the news. Idaho is abundant in critical minerals like antimony, a mineral used in defense manufacturing for bullets, flame retardants, night vision goggles as well as consumer electronics, wind turbines, solar panels and more. See the full list of America’s Growth Leaders below:

Datacenters, AI and distaste for the billionaires developing it has soured Americans on big tech How will Trump’s mass deportation agenda shape the US midterm elections? Our reporters answer your questions The campaign ad begins with a clear, idyllic stream that suddenly turns sludge-brown as two concrete datacenters slam onto its banks. Another facility thuds down on a peaceful suburban park, and two more crush-green pastures as an ominous soundtrack to a disaster movie blares overtop. “They’re coming for our rivers. Our neighborhoods. Our farmland,” a deep-voiced narrator says. “Because Brent Taylor wrote the law allowing datacenters to take over Tennessee.” Continue reading...

Tech companies are painting data centers with gray coatings on top of gray concrete and steel to resist fire, rust and static electricity. That has made data centers a fast-growing market for paint makers.

The people who want to stop AI data centers from being built in their backyards may wind up helping Musk put them over everyone's heads. The post Breitbart Business Digest: Don’t Want AI in Your Backyard? Musk Will Put It in Orbit appeared first on Breitbart .

The move is the president’s latest attempt to address widespread opposition to the AI boom ahead of the midterm elections.

The figure includes hundreds of billions in non-cancelable deals, as AI labs race to finance a huge infrastructure buildout.

Voters across the country in this year’s midterm elections will decide on ballot initiatives to slow down development or issue guardrails for data centers, which have seen sharply increasing public backlash. President Donald Trump has pushed for data center development, arguing they are necessary in order to win the artificial intelligence race against China. However, […]

Trump says data centers should consider community "dividends" as AI financing worries grow.

President Donald Trump called for developers to offer dividends to communities in a bid to make data centers more popular. “If companies want to make their Data Centers popular, pay the community, and/or individuals within the community, a ‘dividend,’” Trump posted on Truth Social early Wednesday morning. “I have watched the process closely, and Data ...

The AI boom is entering a more unforgiving phase, as investors question whether the billions poured into data centers will translate into sustainable profits.