The latest polling reported by @semafor confirms much of what we have been saying at @BuildAmericanAI: Americans want data centers built, but they want them built the right way. And the absolutist positions dominating so much of the political debate are increasingly out of touch with what voters actually think. The numbers tell an important story. Initially, 58% of voters oppose data center development in their state. But when companies are required to cover their own energy infrastructure costs, protect water resources, create jobs and deliver local economic benefits, support for development climbs to 64%. Even more telling, 78% support enforceable standards that protect ratepayers, communities and natural resources. And 58% say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports those protections. This should be a wake-up call for candidates and policymakers who think the politically safe position is either unconditional support for development or blanket opposition to it. Both are potentially serious political traps. Americans are perfectly capable of being pro-growth, pro-innovation and pro-community at the same time, even if the social media chattering class seems incapable of understanding that. Families don’t want higher electricity bills. Communities want a meaningful voice in decisions affecting them. Voters expect developers to pay their fair share and protect local resources. They also understand the value of good-paying jobs, new investment, expanded economic opportunity and American leadership in AI. These positions are not contradictory. They are the foundation of a smart, durable approach to development. We need less absolutism and more serious policymaking. Strong, enforceable standards and continued investment are not competing objectives. They are how we get this right. That’s what we’ve been advocating at @BuildAmericanAI , and it’s where the evidence suggests a broad, bipartisan majority of Americans are. semafor.com/article/10/15/20…