Most Americans now oppose data centers in some way as tide continues to turn on AI technology

Date:
Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:05:00 +0000

Description:
US citizens are feeling worse about data centers than they were just half a year ago, and it doesn't matter which party they vote for.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The environment, energy costs, quality of life and taxes are all concerns Americans are largely split about whether data centers are even good news for jobs Negative sentiments are rising across the board regardless of political background With the US
midterm elections around the corner and AI data centers increasingly becoming part of political discourse, new Pew Research Center reporting has revealed Americans' attitudes toward these facilities have become even more negative
as 2026 continues.

Surveying more than 10,500 US adults, the study found only 4% thought data centers are a positive thing for the environment, home energy costs and local residents' quality of life. On the flip side, more than half (54%) thought they were 'mostly bad' for the environment, up from 39% in January 2026, around half a year prior, showing a marked increase just in a short space of time. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: US citizens are increasingly turning against AI data centers In fact, Americans believe US data centers are worse for home energy costs (50%), quality of life (49%) and local tax revenue (21%) than before.

And with hyperscalers all promising to add hundreds or, sometimes thousands, of operational jobs on top of thousands of temporary construction jobs locally, residents are even starting to disbelieve these promises. Interestingly, the proportion of nationals perceiving data centers as mostly bad for local jobs rose nine percentage points, from 15% at the beginning of 2026 to 24% halfway through the year. You may like 69% of Americans oppose local AI data centers in 2026 poll Trump blasts blocking communities on
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Perceptions are now mostly split, with 24% seeing projects as mostly bad for jobs and 22% seeing them as mostly good.

This still leaves a considerable proportion of Americans 18% to 32%
depending on issue uncertain about the impact of data centers. Are you a
pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Opinions are shifting Today, three in five US citizens say they'd either be not too comfortable, or not comfortable at all, with a new data center operating in their area. Rural inhabitants are more likely than before to have negative perceptions, likely with more projects being approved for extra-urban locations where space is at less of a premium.

The study also delves into the political implications, confirming that Americans are increasingly unsettled by data centers right across the board, be it by age, gender, education levels or political party. While Democrats
are more likely overall to have negative feelings, supporters of both major parties have actually become more unhappy throughout 2026.

Arguably one of the biggest findings of this report isn't necessarily where the split lies and whether Americans are worried about environmental, social or economic impacts it's the sheer pace that negative sentiments have grown in little more than just half a year.

All of this is, of course, playing out during an important time for the US politically.

While President Trump continues to advocate for AI and data center buildouts in an effort to be a global leader, more and more states and regions are imposing temporary bans to reassess legislation and local impacts, including Texas itself the home of OpenAI's massive Stargate project. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/most-americans-now-oppose-data-centers-in-some-w ay-as-tide-continues-to-turn-on-ai-technology


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