Ecolab says 60% of data center projects are paused or delayed amid local opposition

Ecolab CEO Christopher Beck said that despite sharply rising investment and demand, 60% of data center projects are either paused or delayed. He attributed this largely to political and public opposition: in his account, AI and data centers are often discussed negatively in the United States, and local residents do not want such facilities in their communities.

Rather than spend more on communications campaigns, Beck urged data center and colocation operators to engage locally: attend city council meetings, speak with neighbors, politicians, NGOs, schools, and churches, and listen to their concerns. He cited work in Minnesota and Texas, but his explanation of the outcomes in those states is truncated in the transcript. Beck also endorsed helping communities improve water infrastructure and address waste, saying, “we should help.”