RAIL Tracker · 50-State Matrix · 2026
Where the opposition surface is forming
50 states, seven lenses, July 2026 cut. Every state’s activity tier, cluster size, and lens signals at a glance; click a state for the structured one-page brief.
50States
33HIGH tier
33With 2026 races
45With moratorium action
5With ballot measures
| State | Tier | Cluster | Lens signals | Headline | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AlabamaAL | MODERATE | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Alabama's 2026 data-center policy landscape is legislative and local: the state enacted SB 270 requiring 150 MW+ data centers to cover incremental utility costs, while Birmingham imposed a moratorium and then adopted one of the nation's strongest data-center ordinances amid 300-person hearings, and Jefferson County and multiple suburbs declared de facto pauses (ION Analytics; BirminghamWatch). | |
AlaskaAK | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Alaska is advancing pro-investment data-center policy under term-limited Gov. Dunleavy while regulating proactively: Anchorage adopted a data-center land-use/permitting framework (AO 2026-27) March 27, 2026, and a statewide ratepayer-protection bill (SB 250) passed the Senate May 16 but died in the House (DWT (Anchorage), DWT (SB 250)). | |
ArizonaAZ | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Arizona escalated from proposals to enacted policy: Gov. Hobbs signed a state budget in June 2026 that imposes a three-year moratorium (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2029) on new data-center sales-tax exemptions, even as the contested Project Blue campus began construction on unincorporated Pima County land (MultiState, KPMG, AZ Republic). | |
ArkansasAR | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Arkansas data-center policy debates center on ratepayer cost-shifts under the 2025 Generating Arkansas Jobs Act (SB 307) and a contested Pulaski County moratorium, amid a wave of Google/AVAIO hyperscale projects; U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton introduced a federal DATA Act to let off-grid data centers bypass FERC rules (Nation Graph/Arkansas; DataCenterDynamics on DATA Act). | |
CaliforniaCA | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | California produced the nation's first voter-approved citywide data-center ban when Monterey Park's Measure NDC passed on June 2, 2026 with ~88% support (LA Times, Fox Business), and the Legislature is running a dense 2026 slate of ratepayer, CEQA, and water-disclosure bills after enacting the SB 57 cost-study law (Morgan Lewis). | |
ColoradoCO | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Colorado's 2026 data-center surface is defined by a Front Range wave of city/county moratoria (Denver, Jefferson, Boulder, Larimer counties plus a Longmont hyperscale ban) after both competing state bills — an incentives bill (HB26-1030) and a ratepayer 'guardrails' bill (SB26-102) — died in the final days of the legislative session (Kiowa County Press, Baxtel). | |
ConnecticutCT | HIGH | Emerging | Energy/PowerCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Connecticut's 2026 posture is defensive and affordability-driven: the 2026 session ended May 13 without advancing two data-center-slowing bills, electricity prices are the top issue in the governor's race, Sen. Blumenthal co-authored a federal ratepayer-insulation bill (the GRID Act), and the town of Groton enacted a one-year local moratorium on large data centers (CT Public, CT Mirror governor race, CT Mirror GRID Act, DCD (Groton)). | |
DelawareDE | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Delaware moved from nascent concern to active policy response in 2026: the PSC's large-load tariff docket (25-0826) is developing a Delmarva GS-LD class, New Castle County adopted data-center regulations, DNREC blocked a major coastal project, and the House passed HB 233 and HB 445 to keep data-center costs and reliability risks off other ratepayers (House Dems, Jun. 17 2026; Spotlight Delaware, Jun. 8 2026). | |
FloridaFL | HIGH | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Florida enacted SB 484 (signed by Gov. DeSantis, effective July 1, 2026) requiring large data centers to pay their own utility costs, tightening water permitting, banning NDAs and preserving local control, while data centers have become a contrast issue in the August GOP governor primary and a wave of Tampa Bay-area cities imposed local moratoriums (Broadband Breakfast; Just The News). | |
GeorgiaGA | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Georgia is a major data-center hub where the issue has become a defining 2026 policy fight: statewide moratorium/tax-repeal/ratepayer bills all failed in the session, a wave of counties enacted moratoriums, PSC races are turning on data-center power bills, and gubernatorial candidates in both parties are sparring over moratoriums (Inside Climate News bills fail; The Current PSC races). | |
HawaiiHI | LOW | Minimal | Energy/PowerCapital Flows/Insurability | Hawaii's data-center policy debate remains nascent but moved from silence to a study posture in 2026: companion resolutions (SR90/SCR95/HR196/HCR206) request the State Energy Office to convene a working group on the impacts of large data centers on utilities, ratepayers, natural resources, and climate goals, though they remained in committee (, Civil Beat/Digital Democracy HR196). | |
IdahoID | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Idaho took its first concrete data-center legislative step in 2026 by enacting HB 895, requiring new data centers to use non-consumptive water or existing water access, while a tax-accountability bill (HB 897) failed and Idaho Power opened a cost-of-service docket for large loads amid Meta's Kuna buildout (Boise Chamber, Idaho Statesman/YouTube, Idaho Stack). | |
IllinoisIL | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Illinois escalated to a defining-class surface when Gov. JB Pritzker ordered a pause on new data-center tax-credit applications (effective July 1, 2026), setting up a November veto-session showdown, atop a wide local moratorium wave and rising ratepayer costs in a top U.S. hub (Chicago Tribune, POLITICO). | |
IndianaIN | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Indiana runs one of the largest local data-center moratorium waves in the country (at least a dozen counties) and enacted a statewide local-revenue-sharing law (HB 1210), even as the farmland-siting bill HB 1333 died in committee (IndyStar — HB 1210, IndyStar — HB 1333). | |
IowaIA | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Iowa saw a broad county-level moratorium wave in 2026 — at least eight-plus counties paused data-center development — alongside Linn County's landmark 18-month moratorium and comprehensive ordinance, plus a statewide utility-reporting and cost-shift-tariff bill (CBS2 Iowa, Inside Climate News). | |
KansasKS | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Kansas moved into active, widespread local siting fights in 2026 — county moratoria (Geary, Riley, Harper), city debates (Lawrence, Emporia, De Soto), rejected projects (Edgerton/DAMAC) — while the open 2026 governor's race split candidates on a statewide moratorium and the 2025 SB 98 tax-exemption law continues to draw projects (Kansas City Star — governor split, KCUR). | |
KentuckyKY | HIGH | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Data centers became a defining local-electoral issue in Kentucky's 2026 primaries — reshaping county judge and magistrate races in Oldham, Simpson, Meade and Mason counties — while Lexington, Versailles and other communities enacted moratoriums and the open U.S. Senate race featured AI/data-center cost-shift debate (WKMS local primaries; WUKY Lexington). | |
LouisianaLA | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Data centers are a defining statewide issue: Gov. Jeff Landry signed a June 25, 2026 executive order directing new incentive rules to shield ratepayers from data-center power costs (New Orleans CityBusiness), New Orleans imposed a moratorium while it writes zoning rules (NOLA City Council), and PSC races turn on data-center power approvals with a Nov. 18 vote looming on seven gas plants for a Richland Parish AI data center (WWNO). | |
MaineME | HIGH | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Maine is the nation's clearest 2026 data-center test case: its Legislature passed the first-in-the-nation statewide moratorium (LD 307), Gov. Janet Mills vetoed it (April 24) and the House override failed 72-65 (April 29), making Maine a national legislative template even though the moratorium is not in force; the veto reverberated into Mills' Senate primary (which she suspended) and the moratorium is now a live issue in the open 2026 governor's race (Maine Public (veto sustained), McGuireWoods, Press Herald (gov candidates)). | |
MarylandMD | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Maryland's data-center backlash escalated sharply in mid-2026: Harford County became the FIRST Maryland county to ban data centers (signed Jun. 10 2026), while Montgomery (6-month), Howard (17-month), Baltimore (1-year) and Washington (12-month) counties enacted moratoriums and multiple state cost-shift/co-location and tax-repeal bills advanced (Harford County, Jun. 10 2026; WTOP Montgomery, Jun. 13 2026). | |
MassachusettsMA | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Massachusetts data-center policy escalated to statewide executive action in 2026: Gov. Maura Healey halted new data-center tax-incentive applications on June 25 and issued a ratepayer-protection framework, the House passed an energy-affordability bill with a data-center tariff amendment, and local bans/moratoriums spread (Lowell, Holyoke) alongside a Lowell resident lawsuit (Mass.gov (Healey halt), InsideLowell (House amendment), WBUR, TIME). | |
MichiganMI | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Michigan has data centers as a defining, party-blurring issue in its open 2026 governor's race, the most local moratoria of any state (50-plus communities), and an Aug. 4, 2026 township ballot vote to overturn a $1B data-center rezoning in Augusta Charter Township (Detroit Free Press, Michigan Public). | |
MinnesotaMN | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Minnesota's 2026 data-center fight is spreading fast at the local level — Eagan enacted the state's first moratorium (Feb. 17, 2026) and Minneapolis followed with a council-approved pause (finalized June 25, 2026) — while statewide moratorium and transparency bills remain pending and the nation-leading 2025 ratepayer law (HF 16) is now the regulatory backstop (Fox 9, CBS Minnesota). | |
MississippiMS | MODERATE | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Mississippi is aggressively courting hyperscale investment (AWS scaled its commitment to $25B; a new $3B Amazon campus in Vicksburg) while facing a high-profile xAI/Southaven pollution and noise fight and a wave of local moratoriums and zoning ordinances (DataCenterDynamics AWS $25B; Mississippi Free Press). | |
MissouriMO | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Missouri's 2026 data-center policy fights are real but localized: Independence voters ousted incumbents over $6B in tax breaks for a Nebius AI campus, the 2026 legislature passed nothing on data centers, and the 2025 tariff law (SB 4) plus an approved Ameren tariff remain the ratepayer backstop (Kansas City Star, KCUR). | |
MontanaMT | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Montana's early-stage data-center fight sharpened in mid-2026 around NorthWestern Energy's proposed large-load tariff and 2026 IRP (three data-center LOIs from 150 MW to over 1,000 MW), a contested MPSC proceeding, and an MT-01 congressional primary where the issue featured (Parsons Behle, MEIC, Montana Free Press live blog). | |
NebraskaNE | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Nebraska in 2026 enacted first-in-the-nation data-center guardrails (LB 1010 requiring community benefit agreements, decommissioning plans, disclosures and full cost recovery) plus LB 1261 on eminent domain, while local fights escalated — a Gage County 18-month moratorium recommendation tied to a rumored Google project (Bold Nebraska, Nebraska Public Media). | |
NevadaNV | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Nevada's data-center policy fights escalated sharply in May-June 2026: Reno became the first Nevada local government to pause data centers (6-1, extended through Aug. 2027), Nye County adopted a moratorium June 2, Boulder City's planning commission rejected a project, and Microsoft filed a Ratepayer Protection Tariff at the PUCN (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada Independent, NVBEX, Utility Dive). | |
New HampshireNH | LOW | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCivic / Governance Barriers | New Hampshire's data-center policy debate is nascent but real: a statewide moratorium bill (HB 1265) died in committee, a Senate zoning bill (SB 439) was tabled 304-11 leaving no new state law, a Canterbury zoning ban went to town ballot, and towns like Nottingham are now exploring local moratoriums (Citizens Count HB1265, InDepthNH (SB439), NHPR (Canterbury), NHPR (Nottingham)). | |
New JerseyNJ | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | New Jersey's data-center policy landscape is a live, escalating fight: on June 30, 2026 the Legislature passed A796, a first-in-the-nation ratepayer cost-shift tariff bill (50 MW threshold, 85% take-or-pay) now on Gov. Mikie Sherrill's desk, weeks after Sherrill's May 27 Comprehensive Plan to regulate data centers and after a 60+ organization coalition urged a temporary halt (MGRID, Saul Ewing). | |
New MexicoNM | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | New Mexico's 2026 data-center policy fights revolve around the massive Oracle/OpenAI Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County — with air-permit and water fights — a fresh Socorro County one-year moratorium, and a July 3 announcement that four legislators will seek a statewide moratorium in 2027 (Fortune, Organ Mountain News). | |
New YorkNY | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | On June 4, 2026 the New York Legislature passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642/A11560), a one-year statewide moratorium on permits for large (>=20 MW) data centers plus rate-class, renewable and host-community mandates; if signed it would be the first statewide moratorium in force in the U.S., but Gov. Kathy Hochul — up for re-election against Elise Stefanik in a race centered on energy affordability — has voiced reservations and can pocket-veto it by year end (Phillips Lytle, Greenberg Traurig, Commercial Observer). | |
North CarolinaNC | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | North Carolina is in a full data-center policy scramble: 20+ local moratoriums/bans since Dec. 2025, the sweeping 'Ratepayer Protection Act' (SB 730) passed the House Jun. 3 2026, a two-year statewide moratorium bill (HB 1189) pends, and NC-04 became a nationally watched, data-center-defined primary (WRAL, Apr. 2026; E&E News, Jun. 3 2026). | |
North DakotaND | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCivic / Governance Barriers | North Dakota's 2026 data-center oversight is emerging: several western/central county moratoria (Mercer, Dunn; Oliver adopted then repealed) driven by NextEra NDA-shrouded land buys, a new Interim AI & Data Center Committee to prep 2027 legislation, and Applied Digital's large Ellendale campus expanding — but no statewide regime (the Legislature was not in session in 2026) (Route Fifty/ND Monitor, National Today — Mercer). | |
OhioOH | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Ohio remains a top-tier 2026 battleground — home to the New Albany/Licking County hyperscale cluster, a wide local moratorium wave, and the AEP Ohio ratepayer tariff plus HB 706 — though the statewide constitutional-ban petition failed to make the 2026 ballot (POWER Magazine, BG Independent Media). | |
OklahomaOK | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Oklahoma is among the most active 2026 states: six-plus municipal moratoria (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, Broken Arrow, Luther, Norman) plus the Seminole Nation, a signed statewide ratepayer law (HB 2992, effective July 1), and a pending three-year state moratorium bill (SB 1488), all amid a Google-project fight that spawned a (failed) Sand Springs recall (Journal Record — Norman 6th city, OK House — HB 2992 signed). | |
OregonOR | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Oregon moved from posture to policy in mid-2026: the POWER Act's first-in-nation large-load tariff took effect June 10 (PGE data centers +29%, residential/small-business decreases) and a data-center property-tax-break moratorium in HB 4084 became effective June 5, 2026 (DWT, Utility Dive, OR House Democrats). | |
PennsylvaniaPA | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Pennsylvania is where data centers became a defining 2026 campaign issue: all four of the state's competitive U.S. House races sit in districts with contested data-center/AI expansion, while the PUC adopted a first-of-its-kind large-load model tariff (final order May 13 2026), Gov. Shapiro issued binding-by-incentive GRID standards, and the House passed the state's first data-center regulatory framework (HB 1834) (CNBC, Apr. 24 2026; PA PUC, May 13 2026). | |
Rhode IslandRI | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Rhode Island's data-center policy debate moved beyond nascent by mid-2026: multiple ratepayer-protection and cost-allocation bills are active at the General Assembly, competing tax-incentive bills were held by the Senate, and the town of Smithfield enacted an ordinance banning data centers as a land use (with two-year review) — the state's first local ban (RI General Assembly (Kennedy H7331), Ocean State Media (Smithfield), Acadia Center). | |
South CarolinaSC | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | South Carolina had an active but largely inconclusive 2026 legislative session on data centers — a moratorium resolution (H.5286) and a permitting framework (S.867) advanced but did not become law before the May 14 adjournment, while data centers featured prominently in the GOP gubernatorial primary (SC Statehouse H.5286). | |
South DakotaSD | HIGH | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | South Dakota's data-center fight became a defining 2026 electoral issue: after data-center subsidies died in the Legislature (HB1005, SB239) and the 'Data Center Bill of Rights' (SB135) plus HB1038 were enacted, NetChoice/PAC money flooded the June 2 GOP primary, the Sioux Falls mayoral runoff and Lincoln County races, and Applied Digital tied its $5B Deuel County campus to the election outcome (South Dakota Sentinel, Stateside). | |
TennesseeTN | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Tennessee escalated to a defining data-center state in 2026: the xAI/Memphis-Southaven pollution case is the highest-profile U.S. environmental-justice data-center fight (with the Trump DOJ intervening on xAI's side), the state enacted a 50 MW+ ratepayer-protection law taking effect in 2026, and a cascade of local moratoriums (Knox County through 2027, Nashville, McMinnville, Coffee, Washington and Moore counties) has emerged (Reuters DOJ/xAI; Route Fifty TN moratoriums). | |
TexasTX | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | As the nation's largest data-center market, Texas in 2026 saw SB 6 implementation (PUCT/ERCOT 'Batch Zero'), a Gov. Abbott directive forcing data centers to pay their own power costs, the first Texas city ban (San Marcos) and county moratorium fights (Hill County rescinded under a $100M lawsuit; Hood County twice failed), with 56% of voters opposing local data centers (USA Today, Texas Tribune — guide). | |
UtahUT | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Utah's data-center surface became a defining 2026 electoral issue: the $100B+ Kevin O'Leary 'Stratos' project in Box Elder County drove a GOP congressional primary fight, a downsizing forced by Senate leadership, a lawsuit against MIDA, a blocked citizen referendum, a Box Elder County moratorium, HB76 water-transparency law, and Gov. Cox's 'higher bar' executive order (Semafor, Forbes). | |
VermontVT | MODERATE | Minimal | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Vermont waged a real 2026 policy fight over data centers despite having virtually none: the Legislature passed H.727, a strong sustainable-data-center regulatory framework, but Gov. Phil Scott vetoed it and the House failed to override (83-52) on May 29; the moratorium bill S.205 stalled in committee, while Royalton voters adopted a first-in-state 5-year local moratorium (Compass Vermont, CLF (H.727), VTDigger (Royalton)). | |
VirginiaVA | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | Virginia remains the world's dominant data-center hub, but 2026 became a landmark year for opposition: the Court of Appeals VOIDED the ~2,100-acre PW Digital Gateway (Virginia Business, Apr. 1 2026), developer QTS dropped its Supreme Court appeal on July 2 2026 (FOX 5 DC, Jul. 2 2026), and the General Assembly enacted a ratepayer cost-allocation mandate (SB 253/HB 1393) plus a new $0.011/kWh data-center electricity tax in the June budget deal (Broadband Breakfast, Jun. 2026). | |
WashingtonWA | HIGH | Major hub | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance BarriersTalent/Workforce | After Big Tech lobbying killed the comprehensive HB 2515 ratepayer bill in the Senate, Washington's action shifted local and fiscal: Seattle passed a 9-0 one-year data-center moratorium June 9, 2026, Skagit County a 6-month pause, Spokane a 6-1 one-year pause June 22, and the Legislature trimmed a tax break via SB 6231 (GeekWire — Seattle moratorium, GeekWire — HB 2515/SB 6231, Spokane). | |
West VirginiaWV | MODERATE | Emerging | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyWeather/ClimateCapital Flows/Insurability | West Virginia is aggressively pro-data-center at the state level under 2025's HB 2014 (Power Generation and Consumption Act), which preempts local control for certified microgrid/high-impact data-center districts; the 2026 session took no substantial corrective action despite growing Tucker and Berkeley county pushback over preemption and tax-revenue splits (MultiState, Mar. 3 2026; News From The States, Mar. 31 2026). | |
WisconsinWI | HIGH | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCapital Flows/InsurabilityCivic / Governance Barriers | Wisconsin escalated to a defining-class surface in 2026: the nation's first anti-data-center ballot referendum passed in Port Washington (Apr. 7, 2026), data centers became a central issue in the open governor's race, and the PSC ruled existing customers should not subsidize data centers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Daily Reporter). | |
WyomingWY | MODERATE | Growing | Energy/PowerWater/GeologyCivic / Governance Barriers | Wyoming saw the Mountain West's most visible local pushback in Cheyenne/Laramie County (a resident petition and a proposed 12-month moratorium), but the Cheyenne City Council rejected the pause 9-1 on May 26, 2026, keeping the state on a pro-development footing amid a pipeline of up to 40-70 projects (Cowboy State Daily, Cowboy State Daily (petition)). |