Americans are packing town halls to stop data centers. It's working, for now
Locals have made developers drop billions of dollars in data center plans. They may have to win that fight again at the state level
A recent poll conducted by AI companies and private equity firms reveals mixed public sentiment about data center development, particularly in the context of proposed moratoriums like New York’s. Conducted by Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research on behalf of the American Infrastructure Alliance, the research indicates that while a majority of Americans oppose building data centers in their state, a significant portion would support their construction under certain conditions.
Specifically, 54% of respondents said they would back data center development if companies agreed to cover related electricity costs, mitigate consumer impact on utility bills, and ensure environmental protection. Conversely, 31% of voters remain opposed to any data center construction. The poll further highlights that seven in 10 voters fear that outright bans on AI data centers could grant China greater control over US infrastructure, while 64% express concern that such prohibitions might redirect jobs, investments, and economic growth to other states.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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