미국 전역의 지역 사회들이 전력망 부하, 물 사용량, 용도지역 규제 등 우려를 바탕으로 신규 AI 데이터센터 프로젝트에 대한 반대를 조직하고 있다.
Across the United States, opposition to the construction of new artificial intelligence data centers is growing, as residents raise concerns about their impact on local communities. Backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, these facilities have emerged as a pivotal issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Recent polls indicate that more than 70 percent of the public opposes having data centers built near them, according to The Wall Street Journal, prompting governors and candidates who previously championed AI initiatives to reconsider their stances.
The primary source of public anxiety is the strain these facilities place on the national power grid, with residents fearing that rapid expansion will drive up electricity bills. This concern coincides with a nationwide surge in energy costs; average U.S. electricity prices have climbed more than 35 percent over the past five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many consumers blame data centers for rising utility costs, industry representatives argue they are not solely responsible, as reported by the WSJ.
The pressure is especially acute in Texas, one of the country’s fastest-growing data center hubs. Amid worries that the state cannot reliably manage the sudden spike in electricity demand, officials recently froze new grid connections for data centers and initiated an audit of proposed projects. In March, major technology firms—including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, xAI, Oracle, and OpenAI—gathered at the White House to sign President Trump’s “ratepayer protection pledge,” committing to “paying the full cost of their energy and infrastructure, no matter what.” However, the Financial Times noted that the pledge lacks an enforcement mechanism and remains ambiguous regarding which specific infrastructure expenses the facilities must cover.
Beyond electricity costs, opposition has expanded to encompass broader environmental and community impacts. In rural Nebraska, The Associated Press reported that residents fear “dwindling farmland” and “declining water supplies” as large technology companies expand their operations. Meanwhile, East Texas residents have complained of being forced to live in a “gas cloud” to secure sufficient power for data centers. Kardal Coleman, who leads the Democratic Party in Dallas County, criticized the facilities for “replacing our jobs, polluting our air, and exacerbating the climate crisis, not to mention the noise disturbing our neighborhoods.”
A lack of transparency and public consultation has further intensified resistance. In Oklahoma, The Washington Post highlighted how one opponent of a proposed Google data center stated that residents had been “kept in the dark” about the scope of development planned for their community.
Despite the backlash, Trump has vigorously championed data center expansion during his second term, pointing to job creation and national security as justification for accelerating construction. On social media, he warned communities that reject such projects: “If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.” Yet, as The Washington Post observed, some anti-data-center advocates remain skeptical of politicians and powerful corporations urging sacrifices in exchange for economic revitalization that may never materialize. In West Virginia, resident Shaena Crossland expressed fears that data centers could replicate the extractive patterns of industries like coal mining and logging, which depleted state resources while leaving many communities economically stranded. “Hopefully this cycle of extraction and taking advantage of people will stop,” Crossland said.