The community backlash against data centers

There are more than 5,000 active data centers in the United States, and many more are being proposed and constructed. That has created local resistance, particularly when communities see higher energy prices as a result of heavy data-center power needs. David Rubenstein, an attorney with Polsinelli, concentrates his practice on commercial real estate matters, with a specialized focus on the development of data centers and other forms of digital infrastructure. He outlines the issue and ways developers and investors can quell resistance. (02/2026)