Voters in the United States recently approved restrictions on new data center developments in 40 out of 41 local contests. These measures, tracked by Ballotpedia, include citywide bans, limits on facility size, and requirements for public approval.
Bitcoin miners who have already secured power capacity may gain a strategic advantage as local zoning and permitting hurdles make new data center construction more difficult. Publicly listed miners announced over $70 billion in AI and advanced computing contracts between 2025 and early 2026.
Transitioning to AI infrastructure requires significant capital. According to a 2026 CoinShares report, building AI-ready facilities costs between $8 million and $15 million per megawatt, while traditional mining sites cost $700,000 to $1 million per megawatt.
The International Energy Agency projects that US data center electricity consumption will rise from 224 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 426 terawatt-hours by 2030. Congress is expected to examine who should bear the costs for necessary grid upgrades to prevent passing expenses to consumers.
