Before you toss the latest campaign mailer into the recycling bin, take a look.

You might notice a new buzzy campaign issue splashed across the ad: AI Data Centers.

According to NPR’s analysis of political advertising data, mentions of AI data centers in campaign materials are increasing – up from just a handful in January to 164 in August.

The research shows a bipartisan effort to warn the public about the construction of AI data centers throughout the U.S.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore AI data centers and their impact on the environment and the 2026 midterm elections.

Guests:
Julia Tilton, energy and climate reporter, The Daily Yonder
Grant Blankenship, multimedia editor and reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Kenneth Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics, Yale School of the Environment
Tony Adili, zoning enforcement officer, town of Morris, Connecticut

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

Before you toss the latest campaign mailer into the recycling bin, take a look.
You might notice a new buzzy campaign issue splashed across the ad: AI Data Centers.
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/05/nx-s1-5913671/ai-data-center-campaign-spending">NPR&rsquo;s analysis</a>&nbsp;of political advertising data, mentions of AI data centers in campaign materials are increasing &ndash; up from just a handful in January to 164 in August.
The research shows a bipartisan effort to warn the public about the construction of AI data centers throughout the U.S.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore AI data centers and their impact on the environment and the 2026 midterm elections.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/author-julia-tilton/">Julia Tilton</a>, energy and climate reporter, The Daily Yonder</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gpb.org/author/grant-blankenship?instance_overrides_key=_LhpAhkvwaGHvLa482iFc_mBo9zy5x4qAm3UeMK-HfQ&amp;page=3">Grant Blankenship</a>, multimedia editor and reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting</li>
<li><a href="https://environment.yale.edu/directory/faculty/kenneth-gillingham">Kenneth Gillingham</a>, professor of environmental and energy economics, Yale School of the Environment</li>
<li><a href="https://www.morrisct.gov/entities/planning-zoning-commission">Tony Adili</a>, zoning enforcement officer, town of Morris, Connecticut</li>
</ul>
Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WBPXCFW">survey</a>.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.