Key facts
- A poll found a majority of California voters and policy influencers oppose new data center construction.
- Voters across party lines favored local over state control of data center oversight.
- Concerns about data centers include noise, utility rates, and demand for power and water.
- More than half of Republican voters see data centers as good for local jobs, compared to a fifth of Democrats.
- 60% of policy influencers opposed a data center in their own community.
A poll conducted by TrueDot in collaboration with the Citrin Center at UC Berkeley and POLITICO found that a majority of California voters and policy influencers oppose the construction of new data centers in the state. The surveys, conducted between September 8-16, revealed that concerns about noise, utility rates, and the demand for power and water are significant drivers of this opposition.
While industry boosters argue that data centers create jobs and stimulate economic activity, this argument resonates more with right-leaning voters. More than half of Republican voters surveyed believed data centers were mostly beneficial for local employment, a sentiment shared by only a fifth of Democrats. Studies suggest that while data centers can increase local employment, the number of jobs and their longevity are subjects of dispute.
The poll also indicated a preference for local control over data center development. Approximately 40% of voters felt that local government, or a combination of state and local officials, should have greater authority in deciding whether a large data center is built in a community. In contrast, only about 10% of voters believed California's state government should wield more power over the issue.
Opposition to new data centers was even more pronounced among policy influencers, with 45% expressing opposition to new facilities in the state. This opposition intensified when considering a data center in their own community, with 60% of influencers against such a placement. The voter survey included 2,418 registered voters, with results weighted to reflect California's registered voter demographics, while the influencer study surveyed individuals identified by job title and organizational affiliation.