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An Unlikely Political Alliance Emerges

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rarely agree on policy. Yet both have emerged as vocal critics of the artificial intelligence industry’s rapid expansion of data centers, signaling a rare moment of alignment between the progressive left and the conservative right.

Their shared opposition reflects growing political unease over the infrastructure demands of AI, particularly rising electricity prices, grid instability, and the perceived lack of benefits flowing to local communities. As the AI sector races to scale, this bipartisan skepticism suggests its growth path may face significant political resistance.

Rising Costs Put AI Under the Microscope

At the center of the debate is energy. Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, often equivalent to small cities, and their concentration in certain regions is placing unprecedented strain on power grids.

Residential electricity prices are projected to rise another 4% nationwide in 2026, following an increase of roughly 5% in 2025, according to federal forecasts. For voters already grappling with cost-of-living pressures, utility bills have become a politically sensitive issue, and data centers are increasingly viewed as a key driver.

Sanders has gone as far as calling for a national moratorium on data center construction, arguing that communities should not be forced to absorb higher power costs and job disruption while technology firms reap outsized gains.

His criticism also extends to labor concerns, questioning what protections exist for workers as AI-driven automation accelerates alongside infrastructure expansion.

DeSantis Pushes Local Control and Grid Limits

From a different ideological angle, DeSantis has taken aim at the industry’s infrastructure footprint. In December, he unveiled a proposed AI bill of rights that would empower local communities to block data center construction and impose stricter oversight on large-scale AI facilities.

The Florida governor has repeatedly warned that the U.S. power grid lacks the capacity to support the pace of AI-driven data center growth being proposed.

He has framed the issue in local terms, asking voters whether they want hyperscale data centers in residential communities and arguing that most would say no once they understand the implications for land use, power reliability, and electricity costs.

DeSantis’ stance could conflict with federal priorities. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December aimed at preventing what the White House describes as excessive state-level regulation of AI, underscoring the growing tension between national acceleration goals and local resistance.

Political Risk Grows Ahead of 2026 Elections

While Vermont and Florida are not major data center hubs, the political implications extend far beyond those states. Virginia, the world’s largest data center market, has already seen how energy costs can shape elections. Rising utility bills were a central issue in the state’s recent gubernatorial race, which resulted in a decisive victory for Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

With cost of living likely to dominate campaign messaging in the 2026 midterm elections, opposition to data center development is expected to gain traction, particularly in swing states where power infrastructure is under stress.

Policy experts say the political environment has shifted noticeably. Data centers were once viewed almost universally as engines of growth and tax revenue. That perception is now changing as grid constraints become more visible.

Grid Stress Reaches a Critical Point

The most acute pressure is being felt on PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid in the United States. PJM serves more than 65 million people across 13 states, including politically pivotal regions such as Pennsylvania and Virginia.

PJM projects a 6-gigawatt shortfall relative to its reliability requirements by 2027, largely driven by surging data center demand. That deficit is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of a major U.S. city, significantly increasing the risk of blackouts.

Grid analysts warn the system is closer to failure than at any point in its history. The cost of securing power capacity within PJM has surged, with estimates suggesting $23 billion in recent increases are attributable to data centers. These costs are ultimately passed through to consumers, intensifying political backlash.

Policy Decisions Add to Supply Constraints

Energy supply challenges have been compounded by recent federal decisions. The administration’s move to pause offshore wind projects along the East Coast has delayed new generation capacity that was expected to support growing electricity demand.

One of the most affected projects is Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a 2.6-gigawatt development that was expected to provide critical supply to northern Virginia’s dense data center corridor. Analysts say halting projects with near-term delivery timelines directly increases power prices and deepens supply gaps.

Pushback Intensifies at the Regulatory Level

Regulators are beginning to respond. In the PJM region, grid watchdogs have urged authorities to reject data center connections that lack firm power supply or require developers to provide their own generation.

Virginia’s utility regulator has already taken steps in this direction, ruling that data centers must shoulder a majority of the costs for new transmission and generation infrastructure starting in 2027.

In response, developers are increasingly exploring on-site power generation, known as co-location, to bypass grid constraints. While this may solve short-term supply issues for AI firms, critics warn it could worsen overall grid reliability by removing generation capacity from the broader market.

A Broader Reckoning for the AI Industry

What began as a technical infrastructure challenge is rapidly becoming a political liability for the AI sector. With opposition emerging from both ends of the political spectrum, data center expansion now faces scrutiny not just from regulators, but from voters concerned about affordability, reliability, and fairness.

As the industry pushes to scale ahead of elections that will reshape Congress, the data center boom is no longer a quiet backbone of the AI revolution. It has become a visible and contentious issue, one that could reshape how and where the next phase of artificial intelligence is built.