{"id":2672218,"date":"2026-09-28T20:59:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T00:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ai-companies-and-major-unions-join-together-for-new-data-center-push\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T21:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:04:40","slug":"ai-companies-and-major-unions-join-together-for-new-data-center-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ai-companies-and-major-unions-join-together-for-new-data-center-push\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Companies and Major Unions Join Together for New Data Center Push"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fai-companies-and-major-unions-join-together-for-new-data-center-push%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2672218&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Artificial intelligence companies, unions, and private equity firms are collaborating to promote the expansion of data centers across seven states: Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and South Carolina. The American Infrastructure Alliance aims to work with local officials to establish standards and safeguards for these data centers by 2027. Backed by major corporations like Blackstone, OpenAI, QTS, SoftBank, and unions such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the coalition emphasizes responsible development that benefits workers and communities. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a halt on data center permits until an electric grid audit is completed and has called for legislation to eliminate incentives for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/data-center-bill-dies-in-virginia-house\/\" title=\"Virginia House kills ... center bill\">data center construction<\/a>. Simultaneously occurring, Congress has passed legislation requiring data centers to cover additional utility costs caused by their operations. The topic remains a significant point of debate,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gdp-revised-up-to-strong-5-2-growth-rate-in-third-quarter\/\" title=\"GDP surges with a robust 5.2% growth rate in Q3\">balancing economic growth<\/a>,infrastructure needs,and environmental concerns.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Artificial intelligence companies are teaming up with unions and private equity firms to push for more data centers in seven states.<\/p>\n<p>The American Infrastructure Alliance wants to work with state and local officials to implement standards and safeguards for future data centers in 2027, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/09\/28\/ai-industry-unions-data-centers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to an Axios exclusive.<\/p>\n<p>Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and South Carolina are among their target states.<\/p>\n<p>The coalition is reportedly backed by Blackstone, OpenAI, QTS, and SoftBank Group, along with multiple unions, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.<\/p>\n<p>Tag Greason, co-CEO of QTS, the Blackstone-owned data center operator, said that \u201cresponsible growth requires clear expectations for everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth Cooper, IBEW\u2019s international president, stated that \u201cblanket bans on necessary infrastructure projects would set back our economy and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >threaten good middle-class jobs<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cooper added, \u201cThe IBEW is committed to responsible development that benefits workers, communities and our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are proud to join this coalition to chart a clear path forward, so that UA members can continue to protect the health of the nation,\u201d Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, said.<\/p>\n<p>The group is running advertisements in Texas pushing for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to support the expansion of data centers.<\/p>\n<p>Last Monday, Abbott <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-directs-tceq-to-halt-data-center-permits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">directed<\/a> the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt \u201call permits sought by data centers until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas\u201d completes an audit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSimply put, Texans must come first,\u201d Abbott said in a news release. \u201cData centers must pay their own way, protect our grid and water, and complete the ERCOT and TWDB audits. Until they do, TCEQ will issue no permits sought by data center projects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The release added that \u201cdata center projects must cover all electrical infrastructure costs, result in lower residential electrical bills, and complete the ERCOT audit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cData centers must not use water needed by local communities, must report electricity and water usage, and must abide by setback requirements that will protect the communities in which they operate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Abbott is also working with the state legislature next session to eliminate any incentives for data centers built in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>Congressional Republicans and Democrats have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/house-passes-legislation-forcing-data-centers-foot-bill-increased-utility-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seized upon<\/a> the issue as a talking point, advocating for stricter regulations regarding data centers.<\/p>\n<p>The House passed \u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act,\u201d which would force data centers to cover any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-passes-bipartisan-bill-that-would-make-data-centers-foot-the-bill-for-increased-utility-costs\/\" title=\"House Passes Bipartisan Bill That Would Make ... Foot the Bill for Increased Utility Costs\">extra utility costs<\/a> that they create, earlier this month by a margin of 417-3.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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