American opposition to nearby data centers has jumped to 71%, up from 42% nine months earlier, according to a Heatmap Pro survey. Of those respondents, 55% said they “strongly” oppose such a project, and 53% blamed data centers for higher power bills, compared with 28% in the prior reading.
The shift tracks with other recent polling. A Gallup survey in May reported 70% opposition to local data center construction, up from 47% in late 2025, with water and energy consumption cited as the top reasons.
Why is opposition to data centers rising so fast?
The Heatmap Pro survey put opposition at 42% in August 2025 and 51% three months ago, a 49-point swing in nine months. Rising electricity costs appear to be driving much of the backlash: 53% of survey participants blamed data centers for higher power bills, versus 28% nine months earlier.
In the Gallup poll, water and energy consumption were the most-cited reasons for pushback, and respondents said they would rather live next to a nuclear power plant than a data center.
From voluntary pledge to regulatory pressure
In March, following a call from President Trump, several major tech companies signed a voluntary “ratepayer protection pledge” at the White House, promising to cover the energy costs of their AI data centers rather than passing those costs on to local electricity customers. Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Oracle, OpenAI, and xAI were among the signatories.
The pledge remains voluntary and hard to enforce, but it has pushed the issue into formal channels. FERC is preparing action on large-load interconnection rules, Congress has seen legislation that would make data centers pay for grid upgrades, and several states and grid operators are moving ahead with tougher requirements.
Watchdog groups say rising electricity demand from AI data centers is pushing up wholesale power costs in some regions.
How are water concerns adding to the backlash?
Electricity is only part of the story. Past reporting has linked data centers to local water issues, including a report last year about an Amazon data center that residents connected to rare cancers and miscarriages. Georgia’s data center boom drew water worries and resident pushback, Virginia faced similar concerns, and a Fayette County construction site reportedly used 29 million gallons of water without a bill while nearby residents complained of low water pressure.
Broader AI tensions fueling unease
The scrutiny extends beyond the buildings themselves. Layoffs tied to AI and the spread of low-quality AI-generated content online have fed a wider unease. Some tech leaders and economists have pushed back on the negative narrative, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman going so far as to say there is “zero evidence” of AI-related job losses. Altman has also previously dismissed water-use concerns about data centers as “fake,” before pointing to the energy required to “train a human.”
FAQ
How many Americans oppose building a data center near them?
71% of respondents to a Heatmap Pro survey said they would oppose a data center being built near where they live, with 55% saying they “strongly” oppose such a project.
What is the ratepayer protection pledge?
A voluntary White House pledge signed in March by Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Oracle, OpenAI, and xAI, among others, in which the companies promised to cover the energy costs of their AI data centers rather than passing those costs on to local electricity customers.
Why are people worried about data centers and water?
Local reporting has linked data centers to water problems in several states, including an Amazon data center residents connected to rare cancers and miscarriages, water worries during Georgia’s data center boom, similar concerns in Virginia, and a Fayette County construction site that reportedly used 29 million gallons of water without a bill while nearby residents complained of low water pressure.
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