Milldam’s Adam Waitkunas was recently featured in Bisnow on the rise of bipartisan resistance to Data Center Development. As Adam noted, “untraditional alignments” are forming across the political spectrum, with local communities uniting around shared concerns such as water, diesel emissions, noise, and rural character.
While the data center industry has long been accustomed to addressing regulatory hurdles and policy approvals, the current wave of opposition is being driven by something more difficult to navigate: community partisanship. In this dynamic, Republicans and Democrats — groups that rarely agree on national issues — are finding common ground in opposing projects they believe threaten their way of life.
This blending of interests has played out across the country, from Prince William County, Virginia to rural Missouri and Kentucky. In each case, local pushback has proven both persistent and effective, reshaping zoning debates, influencing elections, and delaying or even halting billion-dollar projects. Once conversations shift to tangible local concerns — whether it’s protecting water resources, preserving rural landscapes, or mitigating diesel emissions — traditional partisan talking points quickly disappear.
For developers, the lesson is clear: early, authentic engagement with communities is no longer optional — it’s essential. At Milldam PR, our Community Relations Practice was built to help data center companies address these challenges head-on. By anticipating community concerns, building coalitions, and communicating transparently, developers can prevent small issues from becoming bipartisan flashpoints that stall progress.
