Key facts
- Opposition to data centers in the US is more overt on the political left but also present among Republican supporters.
- Gallup polling in May showed 71% of Americans opposed to having a data center in their area, compared to 53% for nuclear power stations.
- Some polls suggest half of Americans support a total pause on data center construction.
- Stories of local townspeople seeing energy bills soar due to data center infrastructure costs are common.
- The UK has the third highest number of data centers globally, behind the US and China.
- The Labour government designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure.
Growing opposition to data centers in the US, driven by local concerns over energy and water consumption and rising electricity rates, is creating a political challenge that could influence the upcoming midterm elections. While the technology powering artificial intelligence operates silently, the significant electricity and water required to cool the vast arrays of chips in data centers are generating a noticeable backlash.
In the US, polling indicates that data centers are more unpopular than nuclear power stations, with a significant majority of Americans opposed to their construction. This sentiment is being reflected in political discourse, with some local councils being voted out and states proposing bans. Democratic Governors in New Jersey and Virginia were elected partly on platforms addressing rising electricity prices attributed to data centers. The issue has become so potent that even Republican candidates, like Ken Paxton in Texas, are campaigning against data centers and their tax breaks.
While Big Tech CEOs have pledged to manage their energy needs, these assurances have not fully appeased local communities. The argument for national economic benefit, such as driving reindustrialization or advancing AI capabilities, is proving a harder sell when faced with immediate local impacts like increased energy bills and strained water supplies. Furthermore, the limited number of permanent jobs created by data centers, contrasted with the potential for widespread job losses due to AI technology itself, adds to the public's unease.
Similar concerns are emerging in the UK, where data centers are considered Critical National Infrastructure by the Labour government. In areas like Slough and London's Brick Lane, residents are protesting against new developments, fearing negative impacts on their communities, including increased heat and the loss of land designated for housing. The UK government views data centers as crucial for attracting investment and maintaining global economic competitiveness, but faces the challenge of balancing national interests with local opposition.