Introducing "The Data Centers Are Coming"

Introducing "The Data Centers Are Coming"

From Building Local Power by Institute for Local Self-Reliance

April 16, 2026 · 3 min

About this episode

The episode introduces a new season focusing on the conflicts surrounding data centers and their impact on local communities.

Welcome to the newest season of Building Local Power, The Data Centers Are Coming , where we take a trip across the country to some of the hot spots for data center fights. Big Tech is racing for AI dominance, attempting to steamroll local communities through secrecy and shell companies, but that’s only part of the story. We hear from activists and agitated neighbors, experts on energy supply and the environment, and tech correspondents chasing these fights across state lines. Through this series, we start to uncover just how deeply this conflict is steeped in America’s legacy of monopoly corporations versus motivated local communities. And we learn that one thing is certain: the corporate giants behind the data center boom better not underestimate the power of passionate and organized local resistance.

People in this episode

Host: Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Topics covered

  • data centers
  • local communities
  • Big Tech
  • activism
  • energy supply
  • environment
  • corporate resistance

Keywords

  • data centers
  • Big Tech
  • local resistance
  • activism
  • energy supply
  • environment
  • monopoly corporations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Big Tech, AI, America

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