Many Americans are increasingly resistant to the construction of new data centers. This past summer, Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro implemented the toughest data center regulations in the United States. Meanwhile, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul has instituted a statewide halt on hyperscale construction, and Texas governor Greg Abbott has put new approvals on hold while a grid audit is conducted.
At the local level, various disputes are emerging, but these aren’t necessarily correlating with a clear partisan divide. Polls conducted by Heatmap and Embold, as noted by the anonymous Substack author Cremieux, indicate a significant decline in favorability for data centers over the last year.
Efforts to impose data centers on communities resentful of them may only exacerbate the situation.
While Cremieux suggests that this backlash largely stems from NIMBYism (not in my backyard), I remain skeptical. The data does point to a trend that aligns with typical NIMBY sentiments, but framing it as a broader national concern seems to diminish resistance.
Core arguments against data centers—like concerns over rising utility costs—generate far more discussion than their actual impact seems to warrant. For instance, in Virginia, often considered the hub of global data centers, the State Corporation Commission has projected that reallocating costs from households to large consumers could decrease typical residential bills by around 3.4%, roughly equivalent to… well, a lunch out.
I want to be thorough here. Complaints regarding data centers aren’t completely unfounded; households do face financial pressures due to increased demand. Yet, reconciling these mild effects with the heightened emotional reactions proves challenging.
What’s driving Americans’ growing discontent with data centers isn’t animosity towards particular companies or products—it’s more about a collective response to significant technological advancements over the last twenty years.
AI, being the latest development in this tech evolution, invokes our cultural defenses. So, solving these issues isn’t as straightforward as merely tweaking utility regulations or incentivizing local communities.
Three main factors have intensified this anti-tech sentiment, particularly against AI and data centers.
Firstly, AI faces a particularly hostile coalition. Its links to California and the tech industry have alienated many conservative individuals, while its associations with wealthy individuals and corporations have turned off many progressives. Interestingly, even tech enthusiasts often feel threatened by it.
Secondly, advocates of data centers are often not building them where they live. My old university town, Palo Alto, has fought against small cell installations for years. A local retirement community even pushed to have wireless equipment removed from its rooftop.
Palo Alto recently lobbied the FCC against easing wireless infrastructure approvals, all while supporting the necessary groundwork for AI services, provided they retain control over unwanted developments.
When the group that appears to gain the most from a technology shows an aversion to its repercussions, the public naturally grows suspicious of the industry’s intentions. The anonymous writer Polimath reflects on this issue, arguing it’s part of a broader culture war, rooted in longstanding grievances against tech culture.
Lastly, there’s a visible unease among someone within the tech community about the existential risks AI could pose to humanity. A recent resignation from researcher Jacob Coxon—who warned that companies are racing towards superintelligence without regard for potential consequences—highlights this concern.
So, these factors contribute to the public’s resentment. The current debate has become polarized, and the dissatisfaction runs deep, predating recent developments. Actions perceived as imposing data centers on unwilling communities will likely worsen the situation.
Still, the development of these centers is inevitable. The demand is immense, and there are plenty of suitable locations, meaning only a handful of accommodating communities, like Loudoun County, are needed. If local areas wish to abstain, I don’t see a reason to intervene.
However, there’s a significant opportunity for the industry here if it looks to earn broader national support.
Specifically, Big Tech could benefit from visibly situating data centers in the locales where their executives and staff reside. This might help in reshaping public opinion, turning the view of data centers from a burden into a benefit.
Most concerns about water and electricity usage don’t accurately reflect what’s troubling the average person, and merely addressing those won’t tackle the core issue. These arguments are often retroactively selected to rationalize existing opposition, making it likely that debunking one point will only generate numerous others.
If you’re opposed to data centers, I doubt that a modest reduction in your utility bills would sway your thoughts.
