AI Coalition Seeks To Create Standards For Data Centers In Face Of Growing Opposition

A coalition of private equity firms, AI companies and unions has formed, hoping to establish standards for data centers and pave the way for their construction in several states.

The American Infrastructure Alliance seeks to help local officials create standards for data centers. The goal is to clear the way for their construction in 2027 in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and South Carolina, Axios reported.

The organization is meant to be an answer to a groundswell of opposition to data centers across the country. It includes Blackstone, OpenAI, QTS, and SoftBank Group. Unions are also involved in the alliance, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

"Responsible growth requires clear expectations for everyone involved," Tag Greason, co-CEO of QTS, the Blackstone-owned data center operator, told Axios.

However, resistance to the building of data centers continues and has become a central issue in several political battles. Data Center Watch, an organization that tracks opposition to data centers across the country, reported that in the second quarter of 2026, at least 45 projects worth $68 billion were disrupted by local opposition. "Opposition became more local and project-specific, increasingly targeting permitting, infrastructure, and individual policy decisions as regulatory scrutiny expanded across 49 states," the website states.

In July, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul announced a moratorium on data centers in New York while standards for the facilities were created. Last week, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a pause on data center permits, pending an audit assessing their potential impact on Texas' energy grid and water supply.

"Blanket bans on necessary infrastructure projects would set back our economy and threaten good middle-class jobs," Kenneth Cooper, the IBEW's international president, told Axios. "The IBEW is committed to responsible development that benefits workers, communities and our nation."

Abbott was previously supportive of data centers, but his position shifted amid growing opposition. Likewise, the website reported that Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro went from welcoming a $20 billion Amazon investment to supporting stricter rules for data center projects.

Given the growing opposition, data center advocates now plan to engage with local officials to establish rules and standards that take community concerns into account and will allow the projects to go forward.

"American workers and communities should have a seat at the table as this critical infrastructure is built," Michael Coleman, general president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, told Axios.