A Gallup poll conducted in March 2026 found that 71% of American adults oppose building an AI data center near their home, with 48% saying they are strongly opposed. In the first quarter of 2026, community and legislative actions blocked or delayed more than 75 data center initiatives, representing over $130 billion in planned investment. Approximately 300 state-level bills targeting data center regulation were introduced in the first half of 2026. New York’s governor signed an executive order in July 2026 pausing new hyperscale data center permits for one year. Between 64% and 79% of respondents prefer a slower, more cautious approach that accounts for local and environmental impacts.
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