Majority of Texans oppose data center construction
A new poll indicates that a majority of Texans, particularly in rural areas, oppose the construction of data centers in their communities. This sentiment comes as Republican state officials are increasing their scrutiny of the tech industry's infrastructure development in the state.
A recent poll by the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project indicates that 56% of Texans oppose the construction of data centers in their communities, with opposition rising to 62% in rural areas. Only 29% of those surveyed supported such development.
This widespread sentiment comes amidst increased scrutiny from Republican state officials regarding the tech industry's rapid expansion of infrastructure for artificial intelligence. James Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project, noted the unusual speed and breadth of this public pushback against what would typically be seen as economic development in Texas, signaling a significant challenge for business stakeholders favoring data center growth. The poll surveyed 1,200 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/-2.83 points.