In Other News · United States · Politics

Source: Axios

There's a lot at stake for energy in the midterms, from the fate of the bipartisan permitting deal to the growing backlash against data centers and electricity prices.Why it matters: The results could spotlight which energy topics resonate with voters — and which have become political liabilities.Gasoline and diesel prices have been big on the campaign trail, offering a chance to see how much voter frustration over energy costs matters at the ballot box.Data center politics: There are sharp differences between the parties, even though data centers aren't especially popular with either party's slate of candidates.Why it matters: The pace of the AI buildout affects power demand and emissions.State of play: 32.4% of Democratic candidates support moratoriums at the federal, state, or local level, compared to just 3.4% of Republicans, per Data Center Watch, which tracked hundreds of races. Zoom in: Meanwhile, Ballotpedia is tracking dozens of ballot measures on data centers, many of which would impose new restrictions. Ohio is a hot spot.Control and permitting: The outcome will affect the politics of the lame-duck session — and that means the politics of the bipartisan permitting deal.What they're saying: If Democrats take both chambers, "leaders might opt to wait until...