As the AI boom continues, new data from Associated Builders and Contractors shows that one in eight ABC members are building the data centers powering some of the most transformative products in America. But as their popularity skyrockets, so do local concerns and political scrutiny—making the issue likely to be top of mind for voters heading to the polls in November.

In a December 2025 video, Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., called for a national moratorium on data center construction to “give democracy a chance to catch up and ensure that the benefits of these technologies work for all of us, not just the wealthiest people on Earth.” He was referring to individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who are investing billions in the AI race.

Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced legislation this month that would mandate all data centers supply their own power with off-grid sources. Most important for merit shop contractors, the bill includes a provision mandating the use of project labor agreements in power source construction. This legislation represents another attempt to steer construction projects toward union-only contractors—a scheme that would cut out 98% of the industry from bidding on these jobs.

In 2026, more than 300 bills related to data center construction have already been filed in 30 states. New York, South Dakota and Oklahoma have followed Sanders’ lead by introducing moratorium bills to pause construction while studying data centers’ impact on utilities, the environment and local communities.

Polling on data centers in the United States shows electricity is the top concern for Americans. According to a Politico poll, respondents ranked higher electricity prices and the risk of blackouts as their leading concerns about data centers—above fears of job losses or costs to taxpayers.

On March 4, 2026, in an effort to ensure the data center boom helps address affordability concerns, U.S. tech leaders joined President Donald Trump at the White House to sign the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Under the pledge, companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI agreed to build, bring or buy new generation resources and cover the cost of power delivery infrastructure upgrades required for their data centers—ensuring those expenses are not passed on to American households.

As policymakers focus on affordability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, ABC will continue its work to preserve fair and open competition so all qualified contractors can help build this infrastructure. If data center construction continues to create competition for contractors, good-paying local jobs and economic growth for communities, it should remain a win for both the economy and the American workforce.

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