The mayor of Shelbyville, Indiana, says only people who live in ‘shitty houses’ oppose data center

Data center siting is becoming politically charged, impacting $2B+ AI infrastructure projects. The 2026 AI economy relies on rapid data center expansion, but NIMBYism and local tensions over land use, housing equity, and tax incentives can delay or derail these initiatives. Expect more local resistance and mayoral missteps as competition for AI real estate intensifies.