Three-quarters of Americans do not want a data centre near them. A year ago they were evenly split.
A Heatmap Pro poll of 2,045 registered voters across all 50 states and Washington DC, fielded by Embold Research from 8 to 13 August and published on 19 August, found that 75 percent would oppose a new data centre being built near where they live, with more than six in ten strongly opposed. Strong support has fallen to 4 percent from 13 percent a year ago. In August 2025 the same question split roughly 43 percent in favour to 42 percent against, which makes this a 33-point swing in twelve months. The margin of error is 2.3 points. A separate Gallup poll fielded in March found 70 percent opposed, and noted that is more opposition than local nuclear power plants have drawn at any point in Gallup's series going back to 2001.
Why it mattersEvery AI capital plan announced this year rests on land, power and a local permit. Opposition at this level is why Pennsylvania's governor handed local councils an effective veto over data centre siting last week, and why these fights are turning up in state politics rather than zoning boards. The compute is going to get built either way. What this poll measures is how much of the cost will be political rather than financial, and who ends up paying it.
▶ Related video: Why are AI data centres facing a backlash? | The Economist
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