Foreign Donors Fuel US Data Center Opposition, Records Show

Recent reports reveal significant financial support from foreign billionaires and nonprofits to U. S. activist groups opposed to new data centers. This influx of funding has led to growing concerns about foreign influence on American infrastructure projects.

1. Major Donors Identified:

• Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss has contributed nearly $14 million to left-wing groups advocating for a moratorium on data centers. Key beneficiaries include the Indivisible Project, Americans for Financial Reform, the Sierra Club, and Greenpeace USA.

• Another significant donor is British hedge fund manager Chris Hohn, who donated $200,000 to Extinction Rebellion, which also supports the moratorium.

2. Total Funding:

• The combined contributions from foreign sources to groups opposing data centers amount to nearly $40 million, with Wyss providing a significant portion.

3. Impact of Opposition:

• Efforts against data centers have already delayed or blocked projects worth an estimated $152 billion in potential investment for 2025. This has raised alarms among U. S. policymakers about the influence of foreign-funded climate organizations.

4. Comments from Officials:

• Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has noted a shift in climate activism toward opposing development. He called attention to the role of foreign money in this movement and its impact on energy costs for Americans.

• Other officials, including House Energy Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, have voiced concerns that foreign interests, particularly China, may be using such campaigns to hinder U. S. technological progress.

5. Chinese Media's Role:

• Chinese state media has also been promoting narratives against U. S. data centers, highlighting rising energy prices and aligning with the opposition's messaging.

The growing financial influence from foreign donors in the U. S. data center opposition raises questions about the motivations behind these campaigns. The substantial funding and the connections to international interests highlight potential risks to American infrastructure development efforts. 

https://freebeacon.com/china/foreign-donors-fuel-us-data-center-opposition-records-show/