Why Americans Oppose Data Centers and What It Means for AI Regulation

Make no mistake: Americans are increasingly opposed to data centers. A recent poll from Gallup shows 70 percent of Americans oppose a data center in their local area, including 48 percent who are strongly opposed. This opposition has surged by 18 percent in just two months, when Gallup asked the same question in March.

Environmental concerns and quality of life issues are chief among the reasons for this opposition. Yet, despite public resistance, data centers continue to proliferate at an astonishing rate. According to one estimate, more than 4,000 data centers have already been built across the country, with more than 2,000 currently under construction.

This rapid expansion underscores the growing importance of artificial intelligence, workforce automation, and the data centers that power these technologies. It has also become one of the most pressing issues in the current political landscape.

Where the White House Stands on AI Regulation

President Donald Trump and the White House have seemingly chosen to stand aside on AI regulation. On the Democratic side, the path forward remains unclear. Some politicians, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), have called for a nationwide moratorium on data centers to institute stronger consumer protections. Others, such as Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), take a more nuanced stance. Gallego recently told us that artificial intelligence is a “necessary evil” of our modern age, and building data centers is part of that equation.

Voices from Vineland, New Jersey

With so much uncertainty surrounding data centers and AI, we decided to investigate firsthand. We traveled to Vineland, a city in southern New Jersey, where a new data center is under construction. There, we spoke with homeowners living near the facility, a Democrat running on an AI reform platform, and attended a town hall to hear from community members voicing their concerns.

Residents raised a range of issues, from rising electricity bills to the difficulty of selling their homes due to the data center’s presence. Many also expressed general anxiety about the global rise of AI. However, the most common complaint was not about artificial intelligence itself. Instead, residents were upset about a political process they felt excluded from.

At the town hall, attendees said they were shocked by the data center’s initial construction and demanded greater transparency about the relationships between elected officials and big tech companies. They also urged politicians to take proactive steps, rather than waiting for a crisis before imposing regulation.

It wasn’t just the data center itself that frustrated residents. They were upset by what they saw as a physical manifestation of whose interests are prioritized in politics.

Key Concerns from Town Hall Attendees

• Lack of transparency: Residents felt kept in the dark about the data center’s construction and its impact on their community.
• Environmental and economic concerns: Rising electricity costs and the difficulty of selling homes were frequently cited issues.
• Distrust in political processes: Attendees expressed frustration over the perceived prioritization of corporate interests over community needs.

For more insights, listen to America, Actually wherever you get your podcasts or watch it on Vox’s YouTube channel.