Voters favored limits on data center development in 40 of 41 local contests tracked by Ballotpedia during the November 3, 2026, US midterms. The measures ranged from bans and temporary pauses to requirements for voter approval. Industry experts told Cointelegraph that the restrictions could give Bitcoin miners with power already secured an edge in building AI data centers, but local rules can still prevent a site from expanding or being upgraded.
Converting a mining site to AI use also requires investment in cooling, networking and reliability, said Jordan Knecht of Kresus. Yuliya Barabash of SBSB Fintech Lawyers said AI data centers typically need a steadier power supply than Bitcoin miners. The experts said Congress could scrutinize who pays for grid upgrades, but closer scrutiny would not necessarily mean discouraging data center development.
