After a blue wave, data centre fans look to space (opens the source in a new tab)
- Democrats won widely on Tuesday, taking the US House and Senate and doing well in Texas, a data-centre hot spot, with many winners campaigning against the industry, Wired reports.
- Elon Musk, who spent more than $400 million backing Republicans who all lost, posted that data centres in space now look appealing; investors, researchers and fans joined the chorus.
- Experts told Wired change in Texas may be limited: Republicans still hold the state senate, developers' permits carry strong vested rights, and counties lack zoning power over data centres.
- $400m+
- Musk spent on Republicans who lost
Why it matters Local anger over power, water and land has become a vote-winner, and it will shape where AI capacity gets built. Indian states courting data centres should note that welcome can turn quickly.
Other side Orbit is no quick escape: Wired notes space data centres cost far more, cannot reach hyperscale size and depend on launches. With a split Texas legislature, change may be slower than either side expects.