Meta President Says Midterm Backlash Could Make Data Center Projects Harder

Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said Democratic wins in the midterm elections could make data center projects harder to build, as local opposition raises scrutiny of the infrastructure behind AI.

Speaking Wednesday, she described a tougher outlook for data center construction, saying, “I think it’s going to be harder.” She said the industry has not done enough to explain the benefits of its investments. Powell McCormick also connected local resistance to broader public concerns about AI, with data centers making the technology visible in nearby communities.

Meta has data centers in 23 states. Powell McCormick said the company has built data centers for 20 years because its social networking products require substantial computing capacity. Five projects, including one in Texas, are planned at one gigawatt or more.

Meta’s approach to local agreements includes paying its own electricity costs, hiring locally and seeking bipartisan support for projects. The company also directs tax surpluses generated by data centers to teachers and first responders. Powell McCormick said communities need to see how hosting a facility benefits them.

Meta is also concerned about losing some investments amid opposition to data center development. The election season included campaign scrutiny of data-center costs. Powell McCormick expects future projects to face more review, including whether local residents want them.

She said public views of AI could improve if people see benefits in both local infrastructure and the technology itself. She cited potential advances in cancer treatment and access to education as examples of what AI could deliver. Powell McCormick said AI should be available fairly and transparently so people are not left behind.

Meta is aiming for Muse to scale beyond its 10 million users and eventually serve billions. She added that computing capacity would still be valuable even if Muse does not reach that scale. Meta receives daily calls from prospective customers seeking to lease capacity it has built, she said, offering another way to monetize its data center investments.