# Fairbanks Votes Tuesday. Six Voices on AI Data Centers

> The only item on both halves of Fairbanks' priority list is a data center moratorium. The land offered for AI is the Air Force's.

Published 2026-10-03 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-10-03/

## The story

Land offered for AI sits 26 miles out.

Fairbanks votes Tuesday.

None of the six told Alaska's News Source they support data centers.

About 4,700 acres, twelve parcels, three installations.

The Air Force wants private AI data centers at JBER, Eielson and Clear.

97,083

people in the borough, 2025 estimate.

Tuesday picks three of nine voices.

Power, water, noise, air. Which should the borough press first?

Polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

## What we verified

- The Fairbanks North Star Borough regular election is on Tuesday, October 6th. [Fairbanks North Star Borough Clerk's Office](https://www.fnsb.gov/269/Election-Information), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. [Fairbanks North Star Borough Clerk's Office](https://www.fnsb.gov/269/Election-Information), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- The October 6th ballot includes Proposition 3, a citizens' initiative to require hand counting of all ballots and prohibit electronic tabulation. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (official sample ballot)](https://www.fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28941/FNSB-Sample-Ballot-PDF), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Three Borough Assembly seats are on the ballot, Seats D, E and H, each for a 3-year term. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (official sample ballot)](https://www.fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28941/FNSB-Sample-Ballot-PDF), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Miguel Ramirez and Alexis Howell are the two candidates for Assembly Seat D. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (official sample ballot)](https://www.fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28941/FNSB-Sample-Ballot-PDF), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Scott Crass is the Assembly's Presiding Officer. [Fairbanks North Star Borough](https://www.fnsb.gov/172/Assemblymembers), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly has nine members elected at large. [Fairbanks North Star Borough](https://www.fnsb.gov/172/Assemblymembers), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- The Assembly adopted Resolution 2026-25, identifying its legislative priorities, at its August 27th regular meeting. [Fairbanks North Star Borough Clerk's Office (action memorandum)](https://fnsb.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=13145,plainText=false)), primary document, 2026-08-31.
- Resolution 2026-25 supports a moratorium on permitting, leasing or building new commercial data centers on state-owned or municipal lands in Alaska. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (Resolution No. 2026-25 text)](https://fnsb.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=13110,plainText=true)), primary document, 2026-08-27.
- The moratorium would last until the state and local governments adopt standards on six named impacts, from electrical demand and water to noise and air quality. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (Resolution No. 2026-25 text)](https://fnsb.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=13110,plainText=true)), primary document, 2026-08-27.
- The Air Force solicitation AFCEC-26-R-0006 seeks lease proposals for AI data centers at JBER, Eielson Air Force Base and Clear Space Force Station. [SAM.gov (Department of the Air Force)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v2/opportunities/e1f00a73b56e493eaa84ba281e9db695), primary document, 2026-04-10.
- The Assembly's next regular meeting after the election is on October 8th. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (calendar)](https://www.fnsb.gov/Calendar.aspx), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- A second regular Assembly meeting is scheduled for October 22nd. [Fairbanks North Star Borough (calendar)](https://www.fnsb.gov/Calendar.aspx), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- The Fairbanks North Star Borough had an estimated 97,083 residents in 2025. [Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development](https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/index.cfm), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Begich's DATA Act of 2026 would let manufacturers run fully self-contained grid-of-one power systems. [Office of Rep. Nick Begich](https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-leads-legislation-lower-energy-costs-introduces-house), primary document, 2026-04-21.
- The Fairbanks North Star Borough includes Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright among its communities. [Military OneSource, U.S. Department of Defense](https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/eielson-afb), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Eielson Air Force Base is 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks. [Military OneSource, U.S. Department of Defense](https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/eielson-afb), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- NSF obligated $3,824,575 to the University of Alaska Anchorage for an AI-driven critical mineral recovery project. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2614749.json?printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,abstractText), primary document, 2026-08-05.
- The UAA-led project will combine microbiology and AI to recover rare earth elements from coal mining waste, with UAF, Montana Tech and the University of Wyoming. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2614751.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2026-08-05.
- NSF obligated $913,037 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks as the companion award on the critical mineral project. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2614751.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2026-08-05.
- NSF obligated $1,772,170 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for GAIA, an AI-driven geophysics framework led there by Carl Tape. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2608510.json?printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,abstractText), primary document, 2026-07-10.
- The GAIA team will test its system on landslides in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2608510.json?printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,abstractText), primary document, 2026-07-10.
- NSF obligated $1,588,147 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a fire weather toolkit to advance controlled burning in Alaska. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2536745.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2026-07-31.
- The fire weather team will use machine learning on historical weather data to map hazardous fire weather and safe prescribed burn windows across Alaska. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2536745.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2026-07-31.
- NSF awarded $50,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for an I-Corps project on explainable AI that maps underwater depth from satellite imagery. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2630206.json?printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,abstractText), primary document, 2026-08-19.
- NSF's RAISE award gave the University of Alaska Anchorage $380,000 in 2024 to build rural AI partnerships. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2433241.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2024-07-29.
- RAISE created an Alaska AI Solutions Consortium that funds research through a mini-grant program. [National Science Foundation award API](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2433241.json?printFields=id,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,startDate,expDate,date), primary document, 2024-07-29.
- Full proposals for the 2026-27 RAISE mini-grants are due October 7th. [University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering (AI @ UAA)](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/?p=611), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- RAISE will announce its 2026-27 mini-grant awards on November 2nd. [University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering (AI @ UAA)](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/?p=611), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- The Village of Alakanuk Tribe partnered on a 2025-26 RAISE mini-grant called ARCTIC, AI for rural community transformation and infrastructure coordination. [University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering (AI @ UAA)](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/raise-mini-grant-awardee-announcement-25-26), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Nome Joint Utilities System partnered on a RAISE mini-grant using machine learning to predict the thermal conductivity of warming permafrost. [University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering (AI @ UAA)](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/raise-mini-grant-awardee-announcement-25-26), primary document, 2026-10-02.
- Seat D is an open seat because its current holder, Liz Reeves, isn't on the ballot. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Incumbent Nick LaJiness faces Shelly Shupe for Assembly Seat E. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Incumbent Scott Crass faces Joshua Leaders for Assembly Seat H. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- According to Alaska's News Source, the Assembly voted 6-1 to adopt its 2027 legislative priorities. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- The data center moratorium is the only item that appears in both the state and federal halves of the Assembly's priority list. [KUAC (Patrick Gilchrist)](https://fm.kuac.org/2026-08-31/in-legislative-priorities-fairbanks-north-star-borough-assembly-doubles-up-on-ai-data-center-moratorium-request), report, 2026-08-31.
- The Assembly's 2027 legislative priority list totals 25 items across its state and federal sections. [KUAC (Patrick Gilchrist)](https://fm.kuac.org/2026-08-31/in-legislative-priorities-fairbanks-north-star-borough-assembly-doubles-up-on-ai-data-center-moratorium-request), report, 2026-08-31.
- Presiding Officer Scott Crass told KUAC the moratorium request was intended to include federal lands as well. [KUAC (Patrick Gilchrist)](https://fm.kuac.org/2026-08-31/in-legislative-priorities-fairbanks-north-star-borough-assembly-doubles-up-on-ai-data-center-moratorium-request), report, 2026-08-31.
- Seat D candidate Alexis Howell agreed with the idea of a moratorium. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Howell, arguing the borough's grid is already struggling, said "I would hate to see us dump a data center on top of that.". [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Seat D candidate Miguel Ramirez said he can't say "yay" or "nay" because more studies need to be done. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Seat E incumbent Nick LaJiness said "I don't think that data centers are good for any community.". [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Seat E challenger Shelly Shupe said she is "somewhere in between" those worried about data centers and those who don't want to discount them. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Seat H incumbent Scott Crass said "Energy costs in our community have skyrocketed.". [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Crass called a project that would consume more energy than the entire town "absolutely terrifying at first blush.". [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Seat H challenger Joshua Leaders said the impact on infrastructure, the power grid and water needs a serious look to see if the benefit outweighs the cost. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- Leaders supports a temporary moratorium while data is collected. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- None of the six Assembly candidates quoted by Alaska's News Source expressed outright support for data centers. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.
- The Pentagon has offered to lease about 4,700 acres of government land in Alaska to private companies for data centers. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media (Shelby Herbert)](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15.
- No data center projects have been awarded under the Air Force leasing offer. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media (Shelby Herbert)](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15.
- Twelve parcels across the three Alaska installations have been identified for potential data center development. [Air and Space Forces Magazine (Matthew Cox)](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases/), report, 2026-04-11.
- U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said she is not a proponent of data centers at JBER or Interior installations because of an insecure energy base. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media (Shelby Herbert)](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15.
- Fairbanks already has some of the highest utility costs in the nation, according to KUAC. [KUAC via Alaska Public Media (Shelby Herbert)](https://alaskapublic.org/news/alaska-desk/2026-09-15/forget-jets-and-helicopters-data-centers-could-be-alaska-military-towns-next-noisy-neighbors), report, 2026-09-15.
- Eielson Air Force Base could become the first U.S. military installation powered at least partly by a 5-megawatt microreactor. [KUAC (Tim Ellis)](https://fm.kuac.org/sustainability/2026-09-20/air-force-asks-for-public-input-on-proposed-eielson-microreactor-site), report, 2026-09-20.
- Public comments on the Eielson microreactor site were due by September 30th. [KUAC (Tim Ellis)](https://fm.kuac.org/sustainability/2026-09-20/air-force-asks-for-public-input-on-proposed-eielson-microreactor-site), report, 2026-09-20.
- Independent U.S. House candidate Bill Hill said he doesn't want data centers to get tax breaks or build vast complexes without local input and support. [The Alaska Current (Matt Acuna Buxton)](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/09/25/bill-hill-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-25.
- Seat H incumbent Scott Crass defended his vote in favor of the legislative priorities. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/30/fairbanks-borough-assembly-candidates-weigh-data-centers/), report, 2026-09-29.

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