Off-Grid Data Centers Gain Fans, but Permits Still Govern

By Nathan Brooks

Voters rejected data centers in 40 of 41 local ballot measures on November 3, 2026, according to Industrial Info Resources, citing Ballotpedia data. The affected votes covered 40 local jurisdictions in 10 states and called for pauses, limits or bans.

All 41 measures were small, rural and local; no statewide or national question appeared on the ballot. Ohio alone produced 21 measures, all against data centers. Harwood, North Dakota, produced the only result in favor of one.

Jim Cramer, recounting IIR’s tally on Mad Money, said: “Voters rejected data centers in 40 of 41 ballot measures. The people have spoken.” He argued that a Democratic return to the presidency in 2028 could bring federal regulation, calling that “a decided negative.”

What does the vote change for power capacity?

Newly elected governors in Texas, Georgia and Ohio campaigned against data centers. Their states hold about 173 GW of planned data-center capacity, roughly 39% of the U.S. pipeline, and 14.2 GW is already under construction. Any governor executive orders cannot come before January at the earliest.

Utility regulators and grid operators such as PJM Interconnection are moving toward requiring data centers to bring their own power plants or protect other customers from the cost of serving them.

Can Venture Global turn island power into a business?

On November 10, Venture Global used its Q3 2026 earnings release to propose an off-grid AI utility for data centers. Its shares rose 7.1% in premarket trading to $12.64.

Venture Global has frame agreements, master contracts that set terms for future orders, with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes Energy Services. The agreements cover up to 16 new 720 MW power islands, plus transformer and grid equipment.

In practical terms, an island-mode system is a dedicated power plant beside the data center rather than a connection to the shared grid. Such a system generates electricity onsite with no grid connection.

Venture Global targets the start of computing-capacity deliveries in late 2028 and about 5 GW by the end of 2031. These are company targets; the release disclosed no customers, contracts, pricing or capital budget.

The release described the proposal as “a potential new, additive line of business for the Company.” It also said Venture Global could apply capabilities developed for the LNG market, where it had solved speed and scale challenges, to the data-center buildout.

Venture Global had a $6.27 billion market capitalization and $53.615 billion in total liabilities. LNG exports still drove the results: Q3 revenue rose 42.87% to $4.756 billion.

Does Vertiv have enough operating cushion?

Vertiv, which makes power and cooling equipment for data centers, slipped 0.2% in premarket trading to $200.03. Its filing, released before the IIR-tracked votes, showed Q3 revenue rising 61.18% and organic orders, which exclude acquisitions, growing by more than 100%. Vertiv’s stock was down 17.6% since October 9, 2026.

A CNBC Fast Money panelist said orders had doubled, revenue was up 61%, and politics had caused the selloff, then called the stock a buy.

On October 28, CEO Giordano Albertazzi listed power availability, permitting, public opinion and a shortage of skilled construction labor as “pacing items, but they are not slowing down growth.”

Vertiv can equip data centers whether they draw power from the grid or generate it onsite. The company reports 12 to 18 months of backlog coverage. It also acquired Utility Innovation Group, which designs microgrids and onsite power systems, giving it an existing foothold in the same field.

The backlash hurts Vertiv’s valuation more than its operating business. For Venture Global, the backlash improves the sales pitch, but its premarket gain values a business line with no disclosed customer.

Can off-grid power sidestep local objections?

IIR expects data-center construction to continue, perhaps at a slower pace, as developers shift toward community engagement and benefit funds. On-site power can answer the complaint about electric bills, but a gas-fired plant still requires local land-use approval, the same kind of approval voters refused. That makes the proposal a route around grid dependence, not local permitting.

Three developments will test the market view: a signed Venture Global data-center customer, action by the new Texas, Georgia and Ohio governors after January, and December local votes in Arkansas and North Dakota.

The commercial question is narrower than the political one. Until Venture Global signs a customer, its 5 GW target remains a roadmap rather than contracted capacity.