Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Data Centers in Their Neighborhoods, Gallup Poll Reveals

New Gallup Poll Highlights Strong Opposition to Data Centers

A Gallup poll reveals that 70% of Americans oppose having a data center in their neighborhood, with nearly half (48%) expressing strong opposition. This marks the first time Gallup has surveyed public opinion on data centers, which are massive facilities required to power large AI models and other digital infrastructure.

Why Americans Reject Data Centers as Neighbors

Data centers demand substantial resources, including:

• Significant land space
• High energy consumption
• Large water usage

Additionally, they often create environmental and quality-of-life concerns, such as:

• Noise from cooling systems
• Air pollution from onsite gas turbines

These factors contribute to widespread local resistance.

Real-World Impact: Opposition Cancels Billions in Projects

Public opposition has already led to significant setbacks for data center development:

• $156 billion in canceled infrastructure projects due to coordinated local pushback, according to Data Center Watch.
• A newly launched tracking website, Data Center Opposition Report, identifies 268 local opposition groups across 37 states, representing over 300,000 people.

Developer Defiance Amid Growing Resistance

Despite the opposition, some developers remain undeterred. Kevin O’Leary, a celebrity investor and Shark Tank star, is pushing ahead with plans to build a massive data center in Utah—a project covering land more than twice the size of Manhattan.

O’Leary has dismissed local protests, claiming they were organized by “professional protesters” brought in from out of state. He later escalated his rhetoric on Fox News, alleging that opponents were “proxies for the Chinese government.”

“These are proxies for the Chinese government is my argument. They’re just spreading falsehoods. This is the CCP at work here. There’s no question about it.”

— Kevin O’Leary, Fox News interview

Opposition Rooted in Local Concerns, Not Foreign Influence

Contrary to O’Leary’s claims, the data suggests that opposition to data centers is driven by local environmental and economic concerns, not external interference. The movement reflects a broader trend of grassroots resistance to large-scale industrial projects perceived as harmful to communities.