By Megan Cerullo, Emily Pandise, Jo Ling Kent, CBS News, Nov. 11 2026
Opposition to data centers helped propel Democratic candidates who pledged to stall new construction to victory in last week’s midterm elections. More than half of voters said artificial intelligence and data centers were a significant factor in their votes, according to a CBS News exit poll.
But one town says it has benefited from data centers, despite the pushback growing across the nation.
For 20 years, Microsoft has operated its Columbia Data Center in Quincy, Washington, where Mayor Paul Worley told CBS News its presence has created “a kind of boom” for the area.
Additional tax revenue from the project has funded a new high school and hospital, and helped improve other critical services, he said.
Microsoft president Brad Smith told CBS News about the pledge it makes to the communities where it builds and operates data centers.
“Basically, we will put the community first,” he said. “We will not do anything that will increase the electricity rates of our neighbors. We’ll ensure that we replenish more water, we put more water back into the community than we use.”
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