Opposition to AI data centers spreads across US political parties

In short: More Americans are pushing back on new AI data centers in their communities, and the issue is no longer limited to one political party.

What's going on

Opposition to AI data centers, the large buildings that hold rows of computers (like a warehouse full of servers that run online services), is becoming bipartisan. Democrats are still leading the resistance, but more Republicans are also speaking out against new projects.

A Gallup poll found 70% of Americans oppose building AI data centers in their area. Nearly half, 48%, said they strongly oppose them. Gallup also found Democrats are more likely than Republicans to be strongly opposed, 56% versus 39%.

Another recent survey cited by Newsweek showed similar numbers across party lines. It found 69% of Democrats, 54% of Republicans, and 53% of independents opposed new local data centers. Reports from NPR, The Atlantic, and CNBC also say the backlash is now showing up in campaign messaging, drawing attention from politicians on both the left and right, including Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley.

What to watch

The biggest complaints are consistent across reports. People worry about heavy electricity use, large water needs for cooling, local pollution and noise, higher utility bills, and communities having limited control over large projects once plans are set. Watch for more local and state races where candidates promise tighter rules, more public input, or limits on where data centers can be built.

Source: NYTimes