A recent Gallup survey of 1,000 US adults reveals widespread public opposition to the construction of AI data centers in local communities. A commanding 71 percent of respondents voiced opposition, with nearly half (48 percent) being strongly against hosting the infrastructure nearby. This sentiment contrasts sharply with the rapid spending by AI firms aiming to expand compute power through new facilities.

Concerns cited by those opposing local builds center heavily on resource strain and environmental impact. Half of the opposing respondents pointed to effects on water usage, power grid constraints, and deforestation. Other factors included noise, pollution, and quality-of-life issues like impacts on property values and traffic. Conversely, proponents cited job creation (55 percent) and broader economic benefits (two-thirds) as primary reasons for support.

Regulatory action is beginning to reflect public unease. Jurisdictions are taking steps to curb development, such as Monterey Park, California, enacting a ban on new data centers. Furthermore, New York state lawmakers have proposed a three-year moratorium, although some areas, like Maine, have seen vetoes against temporary bans, indicating a mixed governmental response to the infrastructure surge.