Data Center Coalition Unites Tech Firms and Trade Unions

A new coalition named the American Infrastructure Alliance has been established to promote the development of data centers in the United States. The alliance unites several technology firms, including OpenAI, Blackstone, and Coreweave, along with a number of prominent trade unions. The objective is to foster consensus and ensure responsible resource utilization, infrastructure investment, and economic opportunities related to data center construction.

The coalition plans to launch its campaigns in seven key states: Georgia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, and Indiana. This strategic timing occurs ahead of the midterm elections, where the construction of data centers has become a significant political issue. The alliance aims to preempt local opposition and potential moratoriums on development.

Tag Greason, co-CEO of Blackstone-owned QTS, emphasized the importance of responsible growth in a statement. "Communities should have confidence that new development will be accompanied by transparent commitments regarding resource use, infrastructure investment, economic opportunity, and community benefits," Greason stated.

Trade unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), and the International Association of Iron Workers, view data center construction as a critical opportunity to create high-paying jobs and bolster the U.S. industrial base, which has faced pressures. Their involvement in the alliance highlights the growing economic and societal significance of data centers.