Seventy-one percent of Americans oppose building AI data centers near their homes, according to a Gallup survey conducted in March and April 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. This rate of opposition exceeds the 53% who oppose local nuclear power plants [1, 2, 3, 4]. Nearly half of Americans (48%) say they strongly oppose such AI center construction nearby [1, 4].
The main concerns focus on the environmental impact of AI data centers, particularly their high water and electricity use [2, 3, 4]. Large AI data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily — comparable to the demand of a town with 10,000 to 50,000 residents [3]. Among opponents, about 50% rank resource consumption as their top issue, with 18% specifically highlighting excessive water and energy use [2, 4]. Other cited worries include declines in quality of life, higher costs of living, pollution, and negative views of AI technology in general [2, 4].
Opposition varies by political affiliation, with about 56% to 75% of Democrats opposing, followed by roughly 48% to 74% of Independents, and 39% to 63% of Republicans [2, 4]. Supporters, who make up only about 7% of Americans, emphasize job creation and economic benefits from AI data centers [2, 3].
Some states like Maine have debated moratoriums on new data center construction, but political leaders including Governor Janet Mills vetoed an 18-month ban earlier this year, citing job opportunities [2]. AI data centers have rapidly expanded in states such as Texas, Virginia, and Georgia, with companies like OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, Amazon, and Microsoft leading development [3]. Public opposition has already forced cancellation or scaling back of some projects [1].
Gallup’s initial random-sample survey in March 2026 polled 1,000 adults nationwide, followed by a 2,054-person web survey in April to explore reasons behind opposition [2, 4]. Media outlets widely reported these findings on May 13-14, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
