The data centers draw ire for consuming vast energy resources to fuel an artificial intelligence boom viewed with increased skepticism. Opposition to data centers was much higher among likely Democratic primary voters, with 63% opposed versus 45% among likely Republican primary voters. A Citizens Research Council of Michigan report on data centers found that the economic benefits of data centers largely occur during the construction phase and concluded that the projects aren’t long-term drivers of economic development. “In areas that these data centers are coming to, you have these coalitions of people on the left and the right coming out to fight together against data centers,” he said. Many of the towns where data centers have been proposed have never had such large developments set up shop before.“