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Sun, 25 Oct 2026

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 Data centre debate heats up ahead of US midterms - here's what you need to know

Data centres are the lifeblood of our digital world, but there are growing concerns about their environmental impact. The BBC explores their rise in charts.

* There are around 12,250 data centres globally, with over 4,767 in the US and most concentrated in urban areas.
* Data centres are expanding rapidly, consuming vast amounts of electricity (more than France) and sparking concerns about environmental impact and local resource strain.
* The US is at the forefront of this expansion, but opposition to new facilities has grown ahead of the midterms, with 16 states proposing laws to ban or temporarily block development.
* Data centres are critical for AI development and national security, but critics argue they harm local communities and contribute to climate change.
* Hyperscale facilities have a more positive impact on jobs than smaller colocation sites, according to research from the Brookings Center.
* The tech industry is expected to spend over $1 trillion on AI infrastructure in 2027, with alternatives like space-based data centres being explored as concerns about environmental impact grow.