Key facts
- An advocacy group backed by AI billionaires is spending millions on ads to defend data center construction.
- Public opposition to new data centers has increased to 61% from 49% in early 2026.
- Majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents oppose new data centers.
- Several cities and states have implemented bans or moratoriums on data center projects.
- Data center projects worth an estimated $130 billion have been blocked or delayed.
- Some former Bitcoin miners are leasing their infrastructure rights to AI companies.
An advocacy group funded by artificial intelligence billionaires is launching a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin to counter growing public opposition to data center construction. Build American AI, backed by the super PAC Leading the Future, aims to address what it calls "loudest and most extreme voices" influencing the debate.
Recent polling from the Annenberg Public Policy Center indicates that 61% of U.S. adults oppose new data centers in their areas, a notable increase from 49% in early 2026. This opposition is bipartisan, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents expressing concern. Despite the rising opposition to data centers, views on AI overall have remained relatively stable.
The issue has become a significant factor in political races, particularly in Ohio, where Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown has made it a central campaign theme. U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, suggesting that communities resisting data centers risk economic stagnation and that China benefits from the backlash.
This trend has led to concrete actions, with New York imposing a moratorium on hyperscale data centers and Texas pausing approvals. Numerous cities have also enacted bans. Data Center Watch reported that approximately 75 projects, valued at around $130 billion, were blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, a risk that lenders are beginning to price into credit assessments.
Analysts warn that this opposition could impede the buildout of AI infrastructure, a scenario previously seen with Bitcoin miners. Some Bitcoin miners are now pivoting to AI, leasing their established interconnection rights to AI labs. Companies like TeraWulf, Hut 8, and IREN have recently signed substantial lease agreements and cloud deals with AI firms such as Anthropic and Nvidia.