Could data centers and Flock cameras emerge as issues ahead of 2026 midterms?
SOUTHPORT, N.C. — Data centers and artificial intelligence technology, including Flock license plate cameras, are emerging as issues for voters and candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The city of Southport is holding a public hearing Thursday on a proposed 15-month moratorium on data center development. The proposed pause would give city officials time to develop and adopt regulations for future data center projects.
Southport is among several communities considering how data centers could affect local infrastructure, utilities and the environment.
UNCW political science professor Aaron King said issues involving data centers and AI technology could draw more voters’ attention to local and state politics.
“It’s certainly possible that these things may attract more people who otherwise might not vote to come out and pay more attention to what candidates are talking about,” King said.
“I think this really stresses the value of citizens paying attention to local politics and how these things affect their day-to-day lives.”
The issue also came up during a recent Greater Wilmington Business Journal Power Breakfast featuring Republican incumbent state Sen. Michael Lee and Democratic challenger Jessica Bichler.
Lee said North Carolina needs reliable energy to support employers and economic development, including the state’s growing technology sector.
“It’s important to have stable, dispatchable energy, which is important to our employers like Corning, GE and others. We need to make sure we protect that energy as well,” Lee said.
Bichler said communities also need to consider potential environmental impacts as the data center industry expands.
“We have an industry that is so powerful that they are able to run roughshod over communities in a way that communities don’t understand what’s going into their backyard,” Bichler said.
Meanwhile, municipalities across the region are taking steps to establish rules for data centers. Leland and Shallotte have already implemented regulations, while Southport’s Planning Board voted unanimously in July to recommend a 15-month moratorium.
King said candidates’ messages on the issue could resonate differently with voters depending on what they see as the most important potential effects.
“They could have lots of economic impact and for some voters that might be valuable. For other candidates, they may emphasize the potential environmental impacts, which will have different impact on other voters,” King said.
