Residents across the United States have voiced opposition to new data center projects, uniting people from different political parties around concerns about land use, water consumption, electricity demand and limited transparency.

Data centers support the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence services and have previously attracted support from technology firms and local officials who highlighted job creation and tax revenue.

A 2026 Gallup poll found that about 70 percent of Americans would oppose a data center being built near their homes. Opposition has emerged in both red and blue regions. In Hill County, Texas, voters removed incumbent council members after approving a data center project, while Monterey Park, California, enacted a local ban. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said the facilities represent a tangible symbol of AI‑related anxiety. Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has run advertisements accusing his opponent of using data centers to raise expenses for Ohio residents. In New York, state officials imposed a temporary pause on large new data center projects, marking the first statewide moratorium. NYU’s Scott Babwah Brennen reported roughly 65 state‑level restrictions on data centers since the start of 2025 and dozens of city‑wide temporary halts. Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a federal ban on data centers, and the group Humans First, led by former Tea Party activist Amy Kremer, is organizing national protests. Google, which is developing a data center near Sand Springs, Oklahoma, said it strives to be a good neighbor and complies with state and local regulations. Critics argue that the backlash reflects distrust of large corporations and NIMBY attitudes, while others point to genuine concerns about increased household electric bills and water usage.

The growing resistance may slow data center expansion that underpins AI services, but the ultimate effect on the industry and on policy remains unclear.