A major AI data center project was rejected by city leaders in Chandler, Arizona (United States) this week, marking an important moment in the debate over building AI infrastructure in neighborhoods. The Chandler City Council voted unanimously on December 11 to say no to a plan by a company called Active Infrastructure to build a massive 422,000-square-foot facility. This decision came after former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke in favor of the project, working on behalf of tech companies and the Trump administration.

The data center would have housed powerful computers needed to run AI systems, but residents worried about noise, water usage, and power consumption. Over 200 community members wrote letters opposing the project, and residents packed the council meeting holding signs that said "No More Data Centers". Vice Mayor Christine Ellis explained her no vote by saying she wanted to know what benefits the project would bring to Chandler itself, not just to the AI industry.

This battle has become national news because it shows how local communities are pushing back against big technology companies trying to build AI infrastructure in their towns. Even though the Trump administration is encouraging data center construction across the country, the Chandler vote proves that local governments still have power to make their own decisions. Similar fights are happening in other cities like Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona, as well as in Oregon, Missouri, Virginia, and Indiana.

The story also highlights how city planning decisions about AI technology are becoming political battles, with industry leaders and government officials trying to convince local leaders to approve projects while residents try to stop them. This raises important questions about how communities should balance supporting new technology with protecting their neighborhoods from potential problems like noise and water shortages.