Key facts
- A POLITICO Poll indicates a significant increase in voter opposition to data centers.
- Support for building data centers near homes has declined among Democratic voters.
- The issue presents an opportunity for Democrats to adopt a strong stance.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently imposed a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers.
A POLITICO Poll has revealed a significant increase in voter opposition to the construction of data centers, particularly among Democrats. The poll indicates that by July, 53 percent of voters who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 opposed having a data center built near their homes, a sharp increase from January when only 33 percent held the same view. Conversely, support for data centers among these voters dropped from 36 percent in January to 22 percent by July.
Industry representatives, such as Dan Diorio of the Data Center Coalition, acknowledge the need for better public education on the industry's role, water usage, and energy commitments. The growing public concern over data centers presents a political opportunity for Democrats to adopt a firm stance, potentially creating divisions within the Republican base, according to Brad Carson, head of the super PAC network Public First Action.
This trend comes as New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently implemented a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers. AI industry leaders are reportedly anxious that this move could inspire similar actions from other Democratic politicians across the country. Major data center builders like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft declined to comment on the poll results, with Microsoft pointing to previous statements on community-focused AI infrastructure.