Opposition to data centers grows as community voices concerns
As opposition grows across the country, residents in Ohio and Georgia warn that data centers threaten their water, health and utility bills.
As artificial intelligence becomes a more visible part of Americans’ daily lives, a new poll finds bipartisan support for tighter regulation of the technology.
The survey, conducted by the Washington-based AI Policy Institute (AIPI), found that 68% of respondents supported the government creating “a formal review process before making cutting-edge AI models widely available.”
Support for increased government regulation was recorded among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Sixty-four percent of Republicans and 76% of Democrats said they supported a “formal vetting process,” while 63% of independents supported the idea.
The study comes just weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 2 requiring AI developers to voluntarily submit their models to the federal government for review for potential security risks.
The AIPI poll was conducted from June 10th to June 11th, and 1,007 likely voters responded. The poll had a margin of error of ±4.2 percentage points.
‘Strong opposition’ to AI data centers
Separate from the AIPI poll, other polls show that Americans have strong disapproval of AI data centers. A Gallup poll released in May found that 70% of Americans oppose building local data centers, with more than half expressing “strong opposition.”
Common concerns include high energy and water consumption, electronic waste, and noise pollution.
This strong opposition has prompted local governments to pass moratoriums to keep data centers out of their communities.
That includes Monterey Park, California, which is believed to be the first city to implement a permanent ban through a ballot initiative. Voters in the state approved the ban on June 2, but a statewide ban has proven more difficult. Lawmakers in several states, including North Carolina, are proposing stricter rules for data centers.
Laws introduced to curb AI
In March, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) announced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act.
The bill would halt construction of AI infrastructure and give the government time to require reviews of AI products, according to Sanders’ news release. It would also give citizens 50% ownership of America’s largest AI company through a sovereign wealth fund.
“As a society, we can no longer sit back and allow a handful of Big Tech oligarchy to determine the future of this revolutionary technology without democratic input,” Sanders said.
USA TODAY’s Joey Garrison contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
