Many people do not want AI data centers in their towns. This is changing who wins elections in the US and Australia.

許多人不希望在自己的城鎮建立 AI 數據中心。這正在改變美國和澳洲的選舉結果。

Some politicians in the US lost their jobs. They liked the AI data centers, but the voters did not. People in Utah and Oregon voted against these leaders.

美國的一些政治人物失去了職位。他們支持 AI 數據中心，但選民並不認同。猶他州和俄勒岡州的民眾投票反對了這些領導人。

People are worried about these buildings. They say the centers use too much water and make too much noise. They also think electricity will cost more money.

人們對這些建築感到擔心。他們表示數據中心耗水過多且噪音太大。他們還認為電費將會增加。

This problem is also in Australia. Many people there think AI is dangerous. They do not want these big buildings in their cities.

這個問題在澳洲也同樣存在。當地許多人認為 AI 很危險，不希望在自己的城市中看到這些大型建築。

Governments want AI, but local people do not want the buildings.

政府想要 AI，但當地民眾不希望建立這些建築。

Opposition to the construction of data centers is increasingly influencing political outcomes in the United States and Australia, leading to the defeat of current officials and changes in campaign strategies.

反對興建數據中心的聲浪正日益影響美國與澳洲的政治結果，導致現任官員落選並促使競選策略發生改變。

The political situation is changing as data center infrastructure, once seen as a way to boost the economy, has become a major political problem. In Utah, State Senate President J. Stuart Adams and Commissioner Lee Perry lost their positions after supporting the Stratos project, which requires a huge amount of power. Similarly, officials in Oregon, Virginia, and Missouri have faced recall efforts or were replaced after supporting similar facilities. These events show that local planning arguments have turned into a wider system of opposition.

政治局勢正在發生變化，數據中心基礎設施曾被視為刺激經濟的手段，如今卻成了重大的政治問題。在猶他州，州參議院議長 J. Stuart Adams 與專員 Lee Perry 在支持需要大量電力的 Stratos 項目後失去了職位。同樣地，俄勒岡州、維吉尼亞州與密蘇里州的官員在支持類似設施後，也面臨罷免行動或被取代。這些事件顯示，地方規劃的爭論已演變成一個更廣泛的反對體系。

Different groups of people are now joining together to oppose these projects. Environmentalists, ordinary citizens, and suburban residents are all worried about the negative effects of AI infrastructure, such as the loss of water, noise pollution, and rising electricity bills. Data from Gallup shows that 71% of Americans oppose building data centers in their areas, which is a higher level of resistance than what was seen with nuclear power plants. Furthermore, the Pew Research Center reports that many people believe these facilities harm the environment and increase household costs.

目前不同的群體正聯合起來反對這些項目。環保主義者、普通公民與郊區居民均擔心 AI 基礎設施帶來的負面影響，例如水資源流失、噪音污染以及電費上漲。Gallup 的數據顯示，71% 的美國人反對在其居住地區興建數據中心，這種抵制程度比以往對核能電廠的反應更高。此外，皮尤研究中心（Pew Research Center）報告指出，許多人認為這些設施會損害環境並增加家庭成本。

This trend has also reached high-level elections. In Georgia and Virginia, candidates have won by opposing government subsidies for data centers and power grid expansions. In Pennsylvania, Republican candidates in competitive districts are facing critical advertisements because of proposed developments. Internationally, similar fears are appearing in Australia, where projects in Katoomba have been stopped by local protests. Although the Australian government claims AI will improve productivity, a Lowy poll shows that 64% of Australians believe the risks of AI are greater than the benefits.

這一趨勢也影響到了高層選舉。在喬治亞州與維吉尼亞州，部分候選人透過反對政府補貼數據中心與擴充電網而贏得勝利。在賓州，競爭激烈的選區中，共和黨候選人因擬議的開發項目而面臨批判性的廣告攻擊。在國際方面，澳洲也出現了類似的擔憂，Katoomba 的項目已因當地抗議而停擺。儘管澳洲政府聲稱 AI 將提高生產力，但 Lowy 的民調顯示，64% 的澳洲人認為 AI 的風險大於利益。

The expansion of data centers has become a major political divide, showing a growing gap between the goals of AI companies and the acceptance of local communities.

數據中心的擴張已成為一個重大的政治分歧，顯示出 AI 公司的目標與地方社區的接納程度之間存在日益擴大的鴻溝。

Opposition to the construction of data centers is increasingly influencing political outcomes in the United States and Australia, leading to the removal of incumbents and the reshaping of campaign strategies.

反對興建數據中心的情緒正日益影響美國與澳洲的政治結果，導致現任官員被撤換，並促使競選策略重新調整。

The political landscape is currently experiencing a shift wherein data center infrastructure, previously viewed as an economic catalyst, has transitioned into a significant electoral liability. In Utah, the defeat of State Senate President J. Stuart Adams and Box Elder County Commissioner Lee Perry followed their endorsement of the Stratos project, a proposed campus requiring substantial power resources. This trend is mirrored across various U.S. jurisdictions; for instance, recall efforts and electoral replacements occurred in Cascade Locks, Oregon, Warrenton, Virginia, and Festus, Missouri, following official support for such facilities. These developments suggest that local planning disputes have evolved into a broader systemic opposition.

目前的政治格局正經歷一場轉變，數據中心基礎設施以往被視為經濟催化劑，如今卻轉變為顯著的選舉負擔。在猶他州，州參議院議長 J. Stuart Adams 與 Box Elder 縣專員 Lee Perry 因支持 Stratos 項目（一個需要大量電力資源的擬建園區）而落選。這一趨勢在美國多個管轄區均有體現；例如，在俄勒岡州的 Cascade Locks、維吉尼亞州的 Warrenton 以及密蘇里州的 Festus，在官方支持此類設施後，出現了撤換投票與選舉更替。這些發展表明，地方規劃爭議已演變成更廣泛的系統性反對。

Stakeholder positioning reveals a convergence of disparate political cohorts. Environmentalists, populist constituents, and suburban residents are unified by concerns regarding the externalities of AI infrastructure, specifically the depletion of water resources, noise pollution, and the escalation of utility costs. Empirical data supports this trend, with Gallup reporting that 71% of Americans oppose local data center construction—a level of resistance exceeding that historically recorded for nuclear power plants. Furthermore, the Pew Research Center indicates a prevailing perception that these facilities negatively impact environmental stability and household electricity expenditures.

利益相關者的定位揭示了迥異的政治群體的趨同。環保主義者、民粹主義選民與郊區居民對於 AI 基礎設施的外部效應感到憂慮，特別是水資源枯竭、噪音污染以及公用事業成本的攀升。經驗數據支持這一趨勢，Gallup 報告指出 71% 的美國人反對在當地興建數據中心——此反對程度超過了歷史上對核能電廠的記錄。此外，Pew Research Center 指出，普遍觀感認為這些設施對環境穩定及家庭電費支出產生負面影響。

This phenomenon has extended into high-level legislative contests. In Georgia and Virginia, candidates have successfully leveraged opposition to grid expansions and data center subsidies to secure victories. In Pennsylvania, the concentration of proposed developments in competitive congressional districts has created a precarious environment for Republican incumbents, who are now targeted by critical advertising. Internationally, similar anxieties are manifesting in Australia, where proposed projects in Katoomba have been stalled by local opposition. Despite the Albanese government's position that AI will enhance productivity, a Lowy poll indicates that 64% of Australians perceive the risks of AI as outweighing the benefits, aligning with a growing global skepticism toward the concentration of wealth and power associated with AI development.

此現象已延伸至高層的立法競選。在喬治亞州與維吉尼亞州，候選人成功利用對電網擴張與數據中心補貼的反對情緒來贏得勝利。在賓夕法尼亞州，擬建開發案集中在競爭激烈的國會選區，為共和黨現任議員創造了危險環境，使其成為攻擊性廣告的目標。在國際上，澳洲也出現類似焦慮，Katoomba 的擬建項目因當地反對而停滯。儘管艾班尼斯政府主張 AI 將提升生產力，但 Lowy 的民調顯示 64% 的澳洲人認為 AI 的風險高於利益，與全球對於 AI 發展導致財富與權力集中的懷疑情緒趨同。

Data center expansion has become a primary political fault line, characterized by a growing disconnect between institutional AI ambitions and local community acceptance.

數據中心擴張已成為主要的政治分歧線，其特徵是制度上的 AI 雄心與當地社區接受度之間日益脫節。