Will the backlash against AI data centres hit quantum computing too?

The backlash against data centres has spread beyond AI technology and is now directed at quantum computing as well. Communities are protesting the massive infrastructure needed to support this new technology. In the US, data centres are being built in residential areas, on protected natural lands, and in locations that have caused environmental damage.

These buildings generate noise, consume large amounts of electricity and water, and have led to rising utility bills and water scarcity in some areas. Communities are rising up to fight data centres in their neighborhoods, questioning whether the scrutiny will also extend to quantum computing projects. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), a 128-acre research and development campus in Chicago, is facing resistance from local residents.

The project, which will house facilities of several quantum computing firms, broke ground in September 2025 with support from the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago. However, community advocacy groups and environmental organizations have been protesting the development since 2024. The IQMP is expected to bring $9 billion in investment and is being developed on land that was previously an economically significant steel mill but has been abandoned for decades.

Community members are concerned about the environmental impact, potential water and electricity usage, and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. They argue that the project should be reversed or shut down in favor of investments that would benefit the local community, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. The situation in Chicago highlights the challenges faced when introducing large-scale technology projects in communities, regardless of the technology involved.