US Data Center Opposition Fuels Claims of Chinese Funding

Residents of Cheyenne, Wyoming, have rallied against a proposal to build a temporary housing complex that could accommodate up to 5,600 workers for new data center projects. Opponents compare the plan to historic “man camps,” fearing disruption to the community, environmental impact and strain on local services. One local voiced, “These are men who may not even have ties here.”

At the same time, a theory is gaining traction among some tech investors and officials that China is financially backing anti‑data‑center activism in the United States. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum suggested the opposition is “foreign‑sourced dark money,” while a congressional letter has asked the FBI to investigate. OpenAI reported a limited influence operation by Chinese‑linked accounts that posted anti‑data‑center content, but its investigators said, “We didn’t see any signs that they succeeded.” No concrete evidence has linked Chinese funding to the protests, which remain largely driven by local concerns over housing, noise and environmental issues.