Most Americans Don't Want AI Data Centers in Their Backyard

A major new Gallup poll reveals that 71 percent of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local communities. The findings highlight a growing tension between the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and the people expected to live beside it. With companies racing to build more computing capacity, this backlash could reshape where and how the AI industry grows.

Opposition Outpaces Even Nuclear Energy

The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted in March 2026, found that 48 percent strongly oppose nearby data center construction. Only 23 percent expressed any level of support. In a striking comparison, just 53 percent of Americans oppose having a nuclear energy plant built in their area. That means data centers, the facilities that power tools like large language models and AI chatbots, now face more public resistance than nuclear facilities.

The opposition crosses political lines. Among Democrats, 56 percent strongly oppose local data centers, while 39 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of independents feel the same. Women oppose data centers more strongly than men, at 55 percent versus 43 percent. Regionally, the Midwest and South show the highest resistance at 76 and 75 percent respectively.

Resource Concerns Drive Community Resistance

Environmental concerns are the primary driver. Seventy percent of respondents expressed significant worry about the environmental impact of AI data centers. Among opponents, 50 percent cite excessive resource use as their main concern. Water consumption and energy usage each account for 18 percent of objections, with pollution following at 16 percent.

Data centers require vast amounts of electricity and water for cooling. As companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon expand AI infrastructure to support powerful new AI systems, communities are questioning who bears the environmental cost. Supporters of data centers, roughly 23 percent of respondents, point to economic benefits such as job creation and tax revenue.

The results suggest the AI industry faces a serious grassroots obstacle as it scales. Companies planning new data center projects should expect community activism, legal challenges, and potential delays. Engaging local residents early and addressing environmental concerns directly may be essential to building the computing infrastructure that modern AI demands.