No Data Centers In My Backyard: a midwest field report on the AI buildout

​Data center opposition is the issue bringing together MAGA farmers and feminist academics, conservative NIMBYs and Bernie bros. Midwest comedians are calling it the "most bipartisan issue since beer." New York has just passed a statewide moratorium: the first in the country, but probably not the last.

​Honestly, we didn't get it. So we spent 10 days road-tripping across data center sites in Wisconsin and Michigan to try and find out. We talked to residents, technicians, politicians, activists, planners, and businesspeople to learn why Americans hate them so much — water? AI anxiety? billionaires? something else? — and whether there's a way to build them right.

​Join us at Notion HQ for drinks, bites, and a short presentation and Q&A. Doors/refreshments at 5:30; program from 6-7; hang out until 8.

​Capacity is limited so please RSVP! (Note: The event is now well over capacity, so if you haven't been let off the list, you can assume it is full.)

​— Jasmine Sun & Theo Bleier