Story perspectives

70% Americans Oppose AI Data Centers, Outpacing Nuclear

5/13/2026

Summary

Americans Oppose AI

A Gallup survey (Mar 2-18, 2026) finds 70% of Americans oppose AI data centers locally.
48% are strongly opposed versus 7% strongly in favor, with overall opposition (71%) exceeding that for nuclear plants (53%).
Strong opposition is highest among Democrats (56%) vs Republicans (39%) and women (55%) vs men (43%), especially in the Midwest (76%) and South (75%).
Supporters (66%) cite jobs (55%) while opponents focus on environmental and quality-of-life impacts.

Summary

US Data Centers Surge

U.S. AI data centers more than doubled between 2018 and 2021, Lincoln Institute reports.
Global investment in new AI data centers may exceed $7 trillion by 2030, CNBC says.
Virginia tops the nation as the “data center capital of the world,” World Resources Institute notes.
A north-central Georgia data center used over 29 million gallons of water, lowering local pressure, Politico reports.

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Americans Oppose AI

A Gallup survey (Mar 2-18, 2026) finds 70% of Americans oppose AI data centers locally.
48% are strongly opposed versus 7% strongly in favor, with overall opposition (71%) exceeding that for nuclear plants (53%).
Strong opposition is highest among Democrats (56%) vs Republicans (39%) and women (55%) vs men (43%), especially in the Midwest (76%) and South (75%).
Supporters (66%) cite jobs (55%) while opponents focus on environmental and quality-of-life impacts.

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