Just 27% of voters say they would support a data centre being built in their community, according to a June poll by Echelon Insights, placing the projects below every other type of development tested, including a nuclear power plant. The figures have concerned industry figures and political operatives tracking the issue, who fear the backlash could slow the industry's expansion before the technology matures.
OpenAI and Meta are pouring money and lobbying effort into the towns hosting their data centres, as public support for the very infrastructure powering the AI boom collapses. The scramble comes as new polling shows Americans are turning against the technology faster than at any point in the past five years.
