Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel Reports Rising Opposition to U.S. Data Center Expansion

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel said in a CNBC interview with Becky Quick on Wednesday that resistance to new data‑center projects is growing across the United States.

“We are seeing considerably more pushback from communities nationwide,” Abel remarked.

Abel explained that Berkshire’s interest in the data‑center boom centers on supplying power and electricity to these facilities, and that the conglomerate would partner with hyperscale computing firms only if they could keep expenses under control.

“We would support these hyperscale operators as long as their presence does not drive up electricity rates for our other customers,” he added.

Wall Street analysts and investors have echoed Abel’s concerns, noting a rise in organized political opposition to large‑scale data‑center builds that could tax local power and water supplies.

New York has imposed a moratorium on new data‑center construction, and numerous other states are considering similar bans or restrictions. The United States currently hosts roughly 4,700 data centers, a figure that continues to climb.

In a Tuesday client note, Mizuho analysts warned that data‑center development could become a notable topic in the upcoming midterm elections.

“This remains an evolving issue, with some investors questioning both the implications for the midterm elections and the validity of claims regarding resource use and limited long‑term job creation,” Vikram Malhotra of Mizuho wrote on Tuesday.

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