Local opposition to large, energy‑intensive data center projects is spreading, with town halls and municipal boards rejecting or delaying proposals across multiple states. Commercial‑real‑estate and advocacy groups reported numerous defeats and delays, underscoring a new political risk for infrastructure projects that universities and research consortia often rely on. Sources including JLL practitioners and Data Center Watch document a sharp escalation: several recent proposals valued in the billions were stalled by organized community campaigns focused on electricity, water use and zoning. University research computing groups that partner with cloud and colocation providers should reassess site selection, community engagement strategies, and sustainability commitments. Campus planners should treat data‑center siting as a stakeholder management issue: engage utilities, labor and local officials early; model environmental impacts; and prepare communications to address job, tax and grid‑reliability questions.