U.S. data center expansion faces growing local opposition but remains on track
Despite a sharp rise in public resistance and local bans, construction of AI-related data centers in the United States continues to grow, driven by strong demand and flexible site selection.
A recent poll by Heatmap Pro and Embold Research found that only 15% of Americans support building a data center in their area, while 75% oppose it, marking a steep decline from a year earlier. The backlash has prompted more than 500 U.S. jurisdictions to adopt restrictions or bans on new facilities, and the cancellation rate for contested projects has risen from 20% in late 2024 to about 50% in early 2026.
Nevertheless, the overall data-center boom persists. Analysts note that more than 90% of U.S. counties still have no significant constraints, and construction spending hit a record high in June. Wood Mackenzie reports that 36 gigawatts of capacity were added to the pipeline in the first quarter of this year, dwarfing the 3.5 gigawatts of canceled capacity during the same period. “At this point, we do not think the recent wave of opposition and policy intervention has materially changed our national capacity growth trajectory,” said Maya Barkin, an analyst at SemiAnalysis.
The resilience stems from two factors: near-full occupancy of existing facilities and a surge in demand for compute power, and the ability to locate data centers virtually anywhere with land, fiber, labor and electricity. As a result, developers can offer incentives to attract rural communities seeking revenue. “Companies will need to open up their wallets and make sure that communities receive clear benefits,” said John Arnold, a board member of Meta.
State actions illustrate the mixed landscape. Pennsylvania’s governor recently imposed new AI-infrastructure restrictions, while Texas introduced a temporary moratorium that mainly adds a screening step for grid-connected projects, leaving self-powered sites unaffected. West Virginia’s governor announced plans to encourage data-center development to fund tax cuts.
Environmental and AI-risk groups warn that shifting development to less regulated areas could increase carbon emissions, suggesting that local bans may have limited impact without broader federal measures. Experts conclude that, absent a national moratorium or a collapse in computing demand, the data-center buildout is likely to continue, though its location and community benefits remain contested.