AI Data Centers Face Growing Global Opposition Over Environmental Concerns

Early this year, Gallup surveyed a national sample of Americans asking whether they supported or opposed building AI data centers in their local area. 71 percent opposed, with 48 percent strongly opposed.

Opposition to living near a nuclear power plant was only 53 percent, comparatively low. Republicans, Democrats, and independents all rejected data centers. When asked why, respondents most often cited environmental concerns: water, energy, land use, noise and air pollution, and lack of community consent.