Opposition to New Data Centers Surges to 61% in Recent Penn Survey
A University of Pennsylvania poll found that public resistance to building new data centers rose from 49% to 61% over four months, with bipartisan concern over climate, costs and surveillance.
Public resistance to the construction of new data centers has climbed sharply, according to a University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Policy Center survey. The poll of 1,320 U.S. adults conducted between June 16 and July 19 showed 61% opposed new facilities, up from 49% in a February-March survey. The increase was observed across party lines and among users with varying levels of AI engagement.
Researchers noted that opposition is not limited to communities near proposed sites; respondents nationwide expressed concerns about higher electricity bills, water usage, climate impact and expanded surveillance capabilities linked to data-center operations. Younger adults were more likely to oppose the projects than older voters.
"We find it among Democrats, Republicans, independents," said Matt Levendusky, chair of the Institutions of Democracy at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. He added that the issue is unusually bipartisan, contrasting with many other polarized topics.
Local activists in Philadelphia have joined the national effort to pressure lawmakers for stricter regulation. At a rally outside Sen. John Fetterman's office, resident Sharmin Hossain voiced fears about AI and data-center-driven surveillance. "All of these companies are unaccountable tech companies that are expanding their computing services to expand their surveillance," she said.
Sen. Fetterman dismissed critics, describing the backlash as "lunacy."
The poll also found that 68% of respondents believe insufficient regulation has been applied to AI, while 39% anticipate negative effects from its expansion and only 18% expect positive outcomes.