Community outrage is mounting in Little Rock, Arkansas, where two proposed hyperscale datacenter developments face opposition from critics who warn of excessive water and electricity consumption and describe the projects as 'appropriating rural, Black-owned land for industrial purposes.' Some opponents have gone further, framing the developments as a form of modern-day redlining.
The resistance is notable for its unusual political breadth. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. described the coalition as a rare convergence of ideological extremes: 'I would say it's kind of the far left and the far right ran into each other and had a hug,' he said. 'But they come at it from different perspectives.'
Little Rock's fight is part of a broader national pattern. As datacenter construction accelerates across the United States, disputes over the facilities have emerged in nearly every city, with opposition that frequently crosses partisan lines—raising questions about equity, infrastructure strain, and environmental justice in communities targeted for development.