70% of Americans Oppose Data Centers Near Homes, Poll Finds

A new survey reveals that 70% of Americans oppose data centers near their homes, a sharp increase from 47% in late 2025. The findings indicate that data centers have become less popular than nuclear power plants among the public.

Opposition driven by soaring electricity costs

The backlash has prompted 69 jurisdictions in the US to enact moratoriums on data center construction. Rising wholesale electricity prices, which have climbed up to 267% due to the data center boom, are a key driver of opposition.

Maryland has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over a $2 billion grid upgrade bill for out-of-state data centers. Incidents of physical violence and political resignations have also occurred in disputes related to data center development.

The survey was conducted by Gallup and reported by The Washington Post. It remains unclear whether the trend will influence future data center siting policies.