Donald Trump wants more data centres, but voter anger is rising across America
Local residents in the US are expressing frustration over the rapid, unregulated expansion of massive AI data centers near residential areas. While Donald Trump advocates for the industry's growth, some local political candidates are campaigning against these developments due to noise and environmental concerns.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the tension between the rapid infrastructure needs of the AI industry and the quality-of-life concerns of local communities.
Colossus II, the largest operating data centre in the US, was set up near Loretta Thornton's home. ( ABC News: Bradley McLennan )
Link copied Share Share article American war veteran Loretta Thornton was so confident she had found a peaceful place to retire, she named her house 'Serenity'.
Nestled in wilderness and rustling trees in Memphis, Tennessee, the home offered Loretta the quiet life. She spent 11 years soaking it up after a military career, including deployment during the Gulf War, that left her with PTSD.
But her serenity was shattered when a noisy new neighbour moved in next door.
Elon Musk's SpaceXAI (xAI) quietly developed a data centre inside an abandoned warehouse with little regulatory oversight.
It is now the US' largest, so hulkingly huge it has been named Colossus II.
"When they cranked this up, I thought I was back in Desert Storm," she said.
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