Gallup Poll: 71% Oppose Local AI Data Centers, Preferring Nuclear

A new Gallup survey has found that more than seven in ten Americans would oppose the construction of a data center near their homes, with the backlash cutting across party lines and raising fresh questions about the unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The polling, conducted in March and April of this year, shows 71 percent of respondents against having such facilities in their area, while just 27 percent expressed support. Nearly half, or 48 percent, described themselves as strongly opposed.

Data centers, the sprawling facilities that power AI systems and cloud computing, require enormous amounts of electricity, water for cooling, and land. They often generate significant noise from fans and machinery, and some operators have installed gas turbines that release pollutants. Gallup found that half of those opposed cited strains on local resources as their primary concern, while others pointed to higher electricity bills, air and noise pollution, and effects on quality of life. Opposition ran highest among Democrats at 75 percent, followed closely by independents at 74 percent and Republicans at 63 percent.

The findings come as AI companies race to build out capacity, often with little regard for nearby residents. Projects tied to major players like Oracle and OpenAI have drawn scrutiny in places such as Saline, Michigan, where a multibillion-dollar complex is underway. Local resistance has already forced cancellations worth at least $156 billion in planned infrastructure, according to industry trackers, with more than 268 community groups now active in 37 states.

Residents have highlighted concrete harms. In some regions, data center demand has driven up power costs and prompted utilities to prioritize tech clients over households. Communities near facilities report constant humming from cooling systems and, in cases involving backup generators, visible emissions. Gallup noted that Americans now view data centers more negatively than nuclear power plants, with 71 percent opposing the former compared to 53 percent for the latter.

Support for new centers remains limited and often tied to promises of jobs, a rationale cited by 55 percent of backers in the survey. Yet the employment gains are frequently modest relative to the scale of investment and land use. Maine Governor Janet Mills recently vetoed a proposed moratorium on new construction, arguing for economic benefits, even as national sentiment tilts heavily the other way.

The poll underscores a growing disconnect between the priorities of big technology firms and the communities asked to host their operations. With organized pushback mounting and resource pressures intensifying, developers face mounting hurdles in siting future projects.