Business interests are directing substantial funds toward California lawmakers this year in an effort to influence legislation targeting data centers. Amazon, Anthropic and Pacific Gas & Electric lead the spending, which coincides with seven bills advancing through the Legislature.
PG&E reported $2.86 million in lobbying expenses for the April-to-June period, its second-highest quarterly total since 1999. The utility attributed less than 5 percent of that amount, roughly $143,000, to data-center matters.
Amazon spent more than $500,000 lobbying on 33 bills during the first half of the year, including several related to data centers. Anthropic, which began state-level advocacy last year, has spent nearly $90,000 so far in 2026.
Public concern has risen sharply, with a May Gallup poll showing seven in ten Americans opposed to new data centers in their communities. A July Public Policy Institute of California survey found comparable sentiment statewide, driven by worries over utility rates, water consumption and grid reliability.
California Sen. Steve Padilla, author of two of the measures, said the level of awareness and concern is through the roof and noted the issue is bipartisan and national. Assemblymember Diane Papan, who sponsored two bills, described a changed political atmosphere compared with last year.
Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Ahmad Thomas characterized the debate as fueled by strong anti-AI sentiment and said industry groups aim to ground the conversation in reality about everyday reliance on the facilities. Community organizer Britt Smith countered that corporate opponents are spending so much because there is so much at stake and that the future and safety are not for sale.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/politics/data-center-backlash-big-tech-spending-against-backlash