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Findings · data through October 23, 2026

Findings

What the wider database shows about government decisions on data centers: 1,068 adverse actions and 193 approvals since 2020, in 46 states.

Government decisions on data centers by month, 2026

Adverse actionsApprovals
31 4 Jan 55 5 Feb 51 5 Mar 68 6 Apr 91 6 May 148 4 Jun 140 3 Jul 188 10 Aug 157 24 Sep 89 14 Oct*
MonthAdverseApprovals
Jan314
Feb555
Mar515
Apr686
May916
Jun1484
Jul1403
Aug18810
Sep15724
Oct*8914
Adverse actions are shown in the month they were adopted, including ones later lifted or replaced (1,018 in 2026, of which 978 remain in force). Approvals are votes or orders on a specific project; most adverse actions are area-wide, so the two series count different kinds of decisions. *October is a partial month, searched through October 23, 2026. Earlier months can still rise as coverage expands; the October 23 refresh added 164 earlier actions found in a backfill search.

The shift in project decisions

Among the decisions on specific projects I have recorded, 84% were approvals in 2024 (43 approvals, 8 denials or withdrawals), 41% in 2025 and 44% in 2026 so far (81 approvals, 102 denials or withdrawals). In 2026, 876 of 978 adverse actions in force are area-wide moratoriums, bans or zoning limits, many adopted before any developer applied. Texas, Oregon, New York and Pennsylvania have each paused or conditioned data center permitting statewide.

These shares describe the decisions I have found, not the odds for any project. Tracking began in 2025, so earlier years are undercounted, coverage changes over time, and a single project can appear more than once (a rezoning and a later permit are separate decisions).

Opposition crosses party lines

Adverse actions have come in 46 of 50 states, under Democratic, Republican and divided state governments alike. Since 2020, counties Trump won in 2024 account for 669 adverse actions and 125 approvals, against 391 and 68 in counties Harris won. Of recorded decisions on specific projects, 60% were approvals in Trump-won counties and 52% in Harris-won counties, a difference chance alone could produce. In the most Democratic counties, where Harris won 60% or more, 43% were approvals, mostly in metro counties of purple and red states.

Where adverse actions are concentrated

StateAdverse actions in force, 2020 to 2026
Ohio161
New Jersey105
Michigan72
Georgia54
North Carolina53
Florida37
California36
Kentucky32

Ohio's total includes a backfill verified against the Ohio Capital Journal's statewide tracker; states without such a tracker may be undercounted.

The database at a glance

Adverse government actions in force, 2020 to 20261,068
On a specific project (denials, opposition-driven withdrawals, project-triggered pauses)146
Area-wide (moratoriums, bans, restrictive zoning)922
Verified approvals of data center projects, 2020 to 2026193
States with at least one adverse action46
Documented investment behind adverse actions (floor; values published on 25 records)$49.1B+