AI companies, private equity firms and labor unions have joined forces to create the American Infrastructure Alliance, a coalition that plans multimillion-dollar campaigns to advocate for standards and guardrails for data center development aimed at 2027 rulemaking in seven states.
Who is involved
The alliance is backed by Blackstone, OpenAI, QTS and SoftBank Group. Several unions are also core participants, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIAW), the International Association of Iron Workers, and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA).
Goals and target states
The American Infrastructure Alliance says it wants to partner with state and local officials to establish expectations for data center construction and operation in 2027. By helping craft local standards, the coalition hopes to prevent moratoriums on new data center projects. Its initial campaigns will focus on Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina.
What participants are saying
Tag Greason, co-CEO of QTS, said: “Responsible growth requires clear expectations for everyone involved.” Kenneth Cooper, international president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), warned that “blanket bans on necessary infrastructure projects would set back our economy and threaten good middle-class jobs,” and said the IBEW is committed to responsible development that benefits workers, communities and the nation.
Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), said the union is proud to join the coalition so its members can continue to protect the nation’s health. Michael Coleman, general president of SMART, added that American workers and communities should have a seat at the table as the infrastructure is built.
Political context
The group says it is not an outside operation aimed at saturating media markets ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Rather, organizers describe this as an early investment in a longer political fight over AI and data centers that could extend into state legislative fights in 2027 and the 2028 presidential campaign.
One of the alliance’s ads includes the line: “Texas shouldn't choose between protecting what matters and building what's next,” addressing Governor Greg Abbott directly and arguing both goals can be pursued together.
Data centers have become a prominent issue in 2026 midterm politics. Prominent progressives, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have proposed legislation to pause new data center construction nationwide until AI safeguards are in place. At the state level, Governor Greg Abbott—previously a supporter of data centers—halted approvals for new facilities in early August and later said companies had “dug their own grave.” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro similarly shifted positions: after praising a $20 billion Amazon investment last year, he signed an executive order this year to tighten rules for data center development.
Public opinion and union strategy
Unions are heavily represented in the alliance and aim to mobilize members to persuade state and local officials that data centers can be developed responsibly. The coalition’s internal polling found that data centers are unpopular in Ohio, where 67% of respondents expressed an unfavorable view and 18% expressed a favorable one. Those attitudes, the polling found, shift positively if data centers commit to keeping electricity costs low, creating jobs and generating tax revenue.
Bottom line
The American Infrastructure Alliance seeks to work with local officials rather than oppose them, promoting standards that its backers say will allow data center growth while protecting workers and communities. The initiative represents the beginning of a longer engagement around AI-related infrastructure policy at the state level.
