Opinion: The Data Center Conundrum
This opinion piece highlights widespread public opposition to data centers in US communities, citing a Gallup poll indicating that 7 out of 10 Americans are wary of them. The article links this opposition to distrust of AI, concerns about job displacement, and issues like electricity prices and water supply. A protest in Kenilworth, N.J., is mentioned as an example of public sentiment.
The opinion piece, "The Data Center Conundrum," discusses the growing public opposition to data centers across the United States. It references a Gallup poll indicating that seven out of ten Americans oppose data centers in their communities, attributing this sentiment to a broader distrust of artificial intelligence (AI) and concerns over potential mass job displacement, reminiscent of economic changes a quarter-century ago.
The article notes that while the debate often delves into specific issues like electricity prices and water supply, it primarily serves as a proxy for the public's wariness of AI and the companies that benefit from its proliferation. A photograph from a data center protest in Kenilworth, N.J., dated July 18, 2026, illustrates this active opposition. The author also briefly touches on a perceived "festival of artificial intelligence policy incoherence" and the urgent need to address the threats posed by AI.