Americans wary of AI-driven data center boom, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that a majority of Americans disapprove of the rapid data center construction pace supporting AI and would oppose one in their community. Concerns are high regarding increased electricity prices and potential job displacement. Several states are considering moratoriums on new data center projects, and a specific DC Blox project in Indianapolis faces vocal opposition.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals widespread public unease across the United States concerning the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers. The poll found that only one-in-three Americans approve of the current pace of construction, with 64% disagreeing. Furthermore, 57% of those surveyed would oppose a data center being built in their community, reflecting a sentiment shared by two-thirds of Democrats and half of Republicans.
Primary concerns highlighted by respondents include the potential for data centers to significantly increase electricity prices, a worry expressed by 77% of participants. Mark Thompkins, a 65-year-old Republican from Hancock County, Indiana, cited his already high electric bills as a reason for concern. Another Republican respondent, Loren Smith, 72, of South Bend, Indiana, also voiced apprehension about the speed of construction and a perceived lack of transparency from developers and local officials regarding tax incentives.
This issue has become prominent in political discourse ahead of midterm elections, with candidates like U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner from Maine using the risk of rising electricity costs as a campaign point. This public backlash is occurring despite the Trump administration's prioritization of AI development and directives to federal agencies to expedite permitting for related infrastructure.
Locally, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission is set to consider a proposed $2 billion data center by DC Blox on the city's east side, a project that has already faced vocal opposition at a public hearing in April. The poll also indicated broader anxieties, with half of Americans fearing that AI could lead to job displacement. In response to growing public sentiment, fourteen states are reportedly considering or have considered implementing moratoriums on new data center projects.