Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers, women lead opposition
Original: Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers. Women most of all.
Why This Matters
Growing public opposition could impact AI infrastructure expansion plans nationwide
New Gallup poll of 1,000 adults shows over two-thirds oppose AI data center construction, with 55% of women strongly opposing versus 43% of men. Majority would prefer nuclear plants over data centers in their neighborhoods.
A recent Gallup poll reveals widespread American opposition to data center construction, with women showing stronger resistance than men. Among 1,000 surveyed adults, 55 percent of women strongly oppose data centers compared to 43 percent of men. Overall, more than two-thirds of adults oppose the massive complexes used to power artificial intelligence. Surprisingly, a majority said they would prefer having a nuclear power plant in their backyard instead of a data center. Men were more likely to favor data centers, citing economic benefits and job opportunities. Jeffrey Jones, Gallup senior editor and study author, attributed the gender gap to women having more empathy for public-facing issues like environment and healthcare, and favoring Democratic environmental protection policies.