Data center backlash grows, but not everyone is on board

The rapid buildout of AI data centers is drawing growing resistance across the US, with communities raising concerns about electricity bills, water usage, and new projects in their neighborhoods as data-center construction hit a record high in July.

But some lawmakers and analysts are pushing back against this framing, and argue the surge of data-center opposition is a combination of misinformation and misplaced anxiety about the future.

• In a Truth Social post on Monday, President Trump said locations that reject data center construction risk becoming “backwards and poor,” arguing they bring jobs and investment.
• He also noted the importance of US data centers in the global AI race, saying China “could not be happier” with America’s growing anti-data-center movement.

At the same time: A report last week from X identified 200,000 accounts the social media platform suspected were connected to Chinese influence operations, including ~200 postings about US AI and energy policy.

Their posts focused on concerns already circulating in the US, including higher utility bills and pressure on the electrical grid, though X hasn’t established how widely the posts were seen or whether they meaningfully affected public opinion.

What supporters are saying

Data-center proponents argue the facilities are being singled out for resource use that isn’t unique to their industry, pointing to manufacturing and other industrial operations that also consume significant amounts of electricity and water.

• They argue communities would give up economic benefits by keeping data centers out, including investment, construction work, and tax revenue that can fund local services.
• Supporters also say slowing data-center construction could hurt America’s AI ambitions, since developing and running AI models requires beefing up the amount of available computing capacity.

On the flip side…Leaders across party lines are at the forefront of recent data-center pushback. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has called for slowing the pace of data-center development, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) recently halted approvals of ~1,800 new data centers over concerns about their impact on the state’s power and water supplies, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) is requiring developers to pay for new electricity infrastructure and receive local approval for state permits.

What do the polls say? Some 60% of Americans oppose building a data center in their community up from 49% earlier this year, per a University of Pennsylvania survey published last month. Just under a quarter (24%) said building more data centers is good for the country, compared with 47% who said it’s bad, a recent YouGov survey found.

On Capitol Hill: Congress is currently considering several proposals to regulate data centers, including bills that would prevent some utility costs from being passed on to consumers, and require data-center operators to disclose their energy and water use. All such measures remain in committee.

📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, which of the following should be prioritized when it comes to data center construction?

• Improving AI development in America
• Ensuring data centers don’t harm local communities
• Unsure/other