Public opposition to data centers, the sprawling facilities powering artificial intelligence systems, has surged sharply across the United States as local resistance intensifies over electricity use, water consumption and land development tied to the AI boom.
According to a Heatmap poll, at least seven in ten Americans now say they would oppose a data center being built near their home, a dramatic shift from previous surveys that suggested more divided views. In September, a similar poll found 42 percent opposed such projects, rising to 51 percent by February before jumping again in the latest results.
“The public has swung 49 points against data centers in just nine months, underscoring the heightened political salience of the facilities and the AI industry that they embody,” Heatmap noted in in its writeup.
The reversal reflects growing tensions in rural and suburban communities where large-scale computing campuses are increasingly being proposed. Residents have packed local hearings in several states, voicing concerns that projects could strain power grids, increase utility bills and place additional pressure on already stressed water systems.
The opposition has also emerged as a rare point of alignment across party lines. The poll found that 78 percent of respondents who said they voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 opposed nearby data center construction, compared with 63 percent of those who said they voted for President Donald Trump.
Younger Americans expressed even stronger resistance, with 83 percent of respondents aged 18 to 34 saying they would oppose a data center near their home.
The findings suggest that data center development could become a politically contentious issue heading into upcoming election cycles, particularly as technology companies accelerate investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
In Utah, for example, a proposed data center complex backed by investor Kevin O’Leary has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and residents amid concerns over land use and water availability in an already drought-prone region. The project, which would span an area roughly twice the size of Manhattan, is projected to create about 2,000 permanent jobs.
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams has recently urged developers to scale back the project, while Mr. O’Leary has said he is “not walking away.”
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