Who Really Pays for AI Data Centers?

Pension funds and index investors, not just tech companies, are the hidden financiers absorbing AI data center risk if the boom turns to bust.

• Backlash is real: Three-in-four Americans oppose local data centers, ranking them below coal and nuclear plants, per a cited poll, despite governors courting the projects for tax revenue.
• Cash bribes aren't working: Median payment to win resident support is $10,000 (University of Virginia poll); Louisiana teachers got $51,000 bonuses from a Meta deal; towns still fight projects via NDAs and secret 'Project Cannoli'-style code names.

Themes, sentiment and reasons are AI-written paraphrases, checked so they never quote an episode. They may contain errors. Not investment advice. Episodes remain the property of their creators.