After midterm losses, OpenAI launches community compact and policy blueprint to ease local resistance to AI data centers

U.S. voters rejected new data centers in 40 of 41 local ballot measures during the midterm elections. Two days later, OpenAI introduced a National Community Compact and Policy Blueprint with voluntary pledges for future sites it owns and operates, including ending nondisclosure agreements in local talks, covering electricity and grid upgrade costs, throttling peak consumption, and disclosing construction, noise, and water data. It also promised 2,500 jobs in Ohio and $4.8 million for Georgia school lunches, while related projects in that state are planned at over $30 billion. AI stocks split after the election, and Elon Musk's $446 million political bet failed as nearly all backed Republicans lost.