Carl Fleming discusses US midterm election impacts for data centers

Carl Fleming spoke with Fierce Network about what comes next for data center developers and investors after the 2026 US midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of Congress and voters approved new constraints on data center development.

Developers and investors will need to understand what project elements are already secured and what remains exposed, Carl said. “Existing approvals, remaining permits, utility arrangements, and contractual commitments need to be assessed together. A project can retain its approvals and still face changes that affect its timing, cost, or financeability.”

Carl added that projects with deliverable power connections and community approval become more valuable in the current environment.

Carl coordinates McDermott Will & Schulte’s Digital Infrastructure & Strategic Capital Platform, which brings together its AI, compute, energy, regulatory, litigation, and financing capabilities to help clients navigate these interconnected challenges across the development, financing and growth of AI, data centers, and related infrastructure. The Platform helps clients assess project and portfolio exposure, protect existing investments, and identify opportunities to advance viable projects.

Read the full article: “Hyperscalers, neoclouds face reckoning after ballot blowout”