The rapid growth and impact of massive data centers, especially for AI and cryptocurrency companies, this year has had big economic benefits, especially for construction and design firms and their workers. … But there’s increasing blowback to that rapid expansion, with more individual communities opting against new data center projects because of their gargantuan need for electricity and water, which is driving utility rates for residential customers higher. That blowback is getting more coordinated as a coalition of more than 230 environmental, tribal and community groups is calling for a national moratorium on such construction.

Other data center news around the West:

• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): $25B data center planned west of Phoenix wins key approval from county
• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): City of Imperial sues County to halt massive data center project, City of El Centro responds
• SanTan Sun News (Tempe, Ariz.): Council rejects Chandler data center plan
• Pagosa Daily Post (Colo.): Opinion: What data centers really mean for Colorado’s future