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Technology · North America

Poll finds most U.S. voters oppose nearby data centers

An Ipsos poll found 72% of U.S. voters oppose new data centers in their communities, while 57% say AI will be bad for society—public concerns that could shape local siting decisions and AI policy.

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 3 outlets' reporting · Article text read from 1 of 3 outletsHow it's made

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3 outletsLatest reporting 2 min read
Coverage: Too few ratedL 0 · C 2 · R 0 · 1 unrated
Updat3 graphic: United States
Updat3 graphic · Map data: Natural Earth Natural Earth (public domain)

What happened

The brief

A poll of U.S. voters found broad opposition to new data centers in local communities and concern about artificial intelligence’s effects on society. The poll, conducted by IPSOS for The Washington Post and ABC News and released Oct.

20, found that 72% oppose new data centers near their communities, while 57% believe AI will be bad for society, according to the account published by stardem.com. The figures capture two distinct concerns in the survey: the placement of data-center facilities and the broader social consequences of AI.

The account provides the percentages but does not give further poll methodology or explain how respondents interpreted the questions. Nick Khami, identified as the founder of call4me.com, an AI phone agent company, connected local opposition to the visibility of data centers.

He said such facilities can provide a physical venue for people to express concerns about technology that otherwise seems abstract. His comment offers one interpretation of why opposition to the infrastructure might become a focus for AI concerns.

Public demonstrations described in the account include a small group supporting restrictions on artificial intelligence outside New York City Hall on Oct. 5, 2026, before a City Council hearing on AI safety. A separate image caption describes a protester holding a sign against data centers in Mason, Michigan, on Oct. 12, 2026.

The account does not state how many people attended the Mason demonstration or identify the protester. The account also notes a Truth Social post by Donald Trump on Oct. 21, quoting his words as “GREAT FOR THE U.S.A”. It does not explain what Trump was referring to, so the post does not establish his position on the poll findings, data centers or AI policy.

Together, the poll results and the described demonstrations show opposition expressed through survey responses and public signs, while Khami’s comment links local facilities with concerns about AI. The reported figures do not establish why respondents hold those views, and the account does not provide a policy decision or outcome from the City Council hearing.

Why it matters

  • The poll signals that developers and utilities may face stronger local resistance as they seek permits, land, and power for facilities needed to expand AI services. For nearby residents, data centers can bring construction and increased electricity demand, while opposition could delay projects or push them toward communities more willing to host them.

What to watch next

  • Over the next few weeks, watch whether city and county officials cite the poll when scheduling hearings, revising zoning rules, or pausing permits for proposed local data centers.
  • Monitor whether data center developers respond with public meetings or publish details on expected electricity use, water consumption, and local tax benefits.
  • Watch for utilities and state regulators to release or discuss grid-capacity plans tied to proposed data center projects, including who would pay for new infrastructure.
  • In the coming weeks, look for candidates and elected officials to reference the poll in campaign statements or public debates about data center siting and AI policy.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
3 source articles · 3 unique outlets
Outlet political mix: Too few rated· 2 Center · 1 unrated
Where the outlets are based: Unknown 67% · US/Canada 33%
Outlet political mix
Too few rated
Left
Center
Right
0 outlets
2 outlets
0 outlets
The marker shows coverage balance: each unique outlet counts once. 1 unrated outlet is not included.
Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
3 unique outletsDominant coverage: US/Canada
How we measure coverage

How outlets' accounts compare

Updat3 does not yet have enough full reports to compare how outlets framed this story.

Timeline

Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.
  1. OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, brought wider attention to generative AI and the computing resources behind it.
    Background · from our historical context
  2. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on the safe and secure development and use of artificial intelligence.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  3. OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle announced the Stargate project to build AI infrastructure in the United States.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  4. The poll was released Oct. 20.
    Reported in this story's sourcesSource:stardem.com

How we got here

A December 2024 report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that U.S. data centers used 4.4% of the nation’s electricity in 2023 and projected their share could reach 6.7% to 12% by 2028. OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, brought wider attention to generative AI and the computing resources behind it.

In the United States, local governments generally regulate land use through zoning and permitting, while electricity supply is overseen by state regulators and regional grid operators; those separate decision-making systems shape how communities assess proposed data centers.

Original sources

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