According to the Heatmap Pro survey, 71% of Americans say they would oppose building a data center near their home, with 55% “strongly oppose.” By comparison, nine months ago the results were nearly balanced, with 43% supporting such projects and 42% opposing. Three months ago, the share of opponents already amounted to 51%. Thus, in the period between the measurements, a sharp increase in the level of rejection of such projects is recorded.
Analysts attribute this shift to increasing public attention to artificial intelligence and the infrastructure that powers it. As AI spreads, the need for computing power grows, which leads to the active construction of new data centers.
In a number of communities, such projects are increasingly perceived not as an element of technological development, but as a source of local costs – primarily the burden on the power grid and water resources, as well as increased noise levels. In some rural areas, where such facilities are most often located, residents also report concerns about environmental impact.
The level of opposition is particularly high among younger Americans, with up to 80% of respondents in the 18-34 age group saying they would not support building a data center near where they live. Against this backdrop, some studies have also recorded a decline in the general optimism of young people about AI, including due to concerns about the labor market and automation.
Major tech companies, in turn, are trying to allay public fears. Executives at OpenAI and Nvidia in recent months have urged caution about predictions of massive job replacement, and Google has announced new environmental commitments, including measures to reduce data center water use and plans to offset water use by 2030.
Infrastructure constraints remain an additional pressure factor, with SpaceX noting in its filings that access to water could be one of the risks in expanding computing capacity.
Against this backdrop, data centers are increasingly becoming the subject of political debate. A number of states are discussing restrictions and temporary moratoriums on new projects, but such initiatives have so far faced resistance from authorities and businesses.
