[Approximately $130 Billion in U.S. Data Center Projects Blocked or Delayed, OpenAI and Meta Strengthen Community Relations] Odaily Planet Daily News: As concerns grow across the United States regarding the water and electricity consumption of AI data centers and their impact on local infrastructure, tech companies like OpenAI and Meta are ramping up their community relations efforts to reduce the risk of opposition to data center projects. According to a Gallup survey, about 70% of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local areas. In the first three months of this year, at least 75 data center projects, with a total value of approximately $130 billion, were blocked or delayed due to local opposition. OpenAI is currently hiring a Head of Community Engagement to mitigate the risk of opposition to its data center projects in Ohio and Georgia. Meta is recruiting a Community Engagement Manager to build relationships with local officials, school districts, and other stakeholders. Additionally, OpenAI announced this week that it will invest $40 million to establish an Ohio Community Fund, while Meta has already spent millions of dollars on advertising campaigns promoting its data centers. Microsoft, on the other hand, stated that it will no longer seek local tax incentives for new data center construction. (Bloomberg)