Three-quarters of Americans say they do not want a data center built near them, and 64% say they would strongly oppose such a development, according to a new poll. Only 15% of respondents favored a nearby data center, with just 4% strongly in favor. The shift against these facilities has accelerated sharply over the past 12 months, spanning age, gender, income, party affiliation, and the rural-urban divide.
What the latest survey found
The survey, conducted by Embold Research among 2,045 registered American voters via text-to-web responses from Aug. 8 to Aug. 13, asked the same question four times in the last year without changing the wording. Opposition has climbed steadily: 42% opposed in August 2024, 51% in February, 60% in May, and 75% in the newest wave. The share who strongly oppose has also risen, reaching 54% in the May reading and 64% in August.
Net favorability is deeply negative across the political spectrum. Data centers sit 43 points underwater with Republicans, 65 points underwater with independents, and 75 points underwater with Democrats, a remarkable 33-point swing against the industry in roughly a year.
Why opposition has grown so quickly
The poll did not break out what is driving the shift, but several long-standing criticisms have intensified alongside the AI boom. Data centers were already drawing scrutiny for their rising electricity and water consumption before AI became an everyday topic. As AI services and platforms have scaled, complaints about the facilities and their outputs have multiplied.
- Noise from cooling systems and round-the-clock operation.
- On-site pollution from gas turbines that many large complexes rely on for backup power.
- Limited local employment once construction wraps up.
- Visual and landscape disruption from the structures and the transmission lines that serve them.
- Rising power bills paid even by households far from any data center.
- Concerns about AI outputs, including low-quality content and factual errors.
- Higher prices on consumer electronics, as the AI boom has raised component costs.
- Speculative financing of new data-center capacity, which critics worry could destabilize the broader economy.
Other surveys show the same pattern
The latest numbers align with earlier polling. A July survey by the real-estate firm Redfin found that 53% of Americans did not want to see a data center built near them, while 34% would support one. The convergence of two independent surveys suggests the trend is real rather than an artifact of one pollster’s methodology.
Where the backlash is showing up
Data-center opposition has begun spilling into popular culture and street-level protest. A new commercial from the beverage brands Liquid Death and Garage Beer features former NFL player Jason Kelce pitching those drinks as a way to generate liquid to cool data centers, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the facilities’ water appetite. Separately, nationwide protests against new data-center builds have spread across multiple states, drawing residents who cite noise, water use, and electric-rate increases among their grievances.
What this means for the industry
For data-center developers, utilities, and the tech companies driving AI demand, the polling points to a tightening social license to operate. Local approvals, zoning battles, and rate-case proceedings are increasingly likely to become flashpoints, especially in counties where hyperscale projects are proposed. The four-wave trend tracked by Heatmap shows that opposition is not a one-quarter reaction but a sustained, broadening shift that has held even as the wording of the question stayed constant.
FAQ
How many Americans oppose data centers near them?
75% of Americans do not want a data center built near them, according to the latest Heatmap poll. 64% say they would strongly oppose such a development, while only 15% favor one and just 4% strongly favor one.
How has opposition to data centers changed over time?
Opposition has climbed from 42% in August 2024 to 51% in February, 60% in May, and 75% in August 2025, a 33-point swing against the industry in about a year. The share who strongly oppose has also risen, reaching 54% in May and 64% in August.
Why are Americans turning against data centers?
Common criticisms include noise from the facilities, pollution from on-site gas turbines, limited local jobs after construction, damage to scenery, higher power bills for nearby residents, concerns about AI outputs, rising consumer electronics prices, and worries about speculative financing in the sector.
This article summarizes reporting from pcmag.com. See our editorial disclaimer for how our articles are produced.
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