Despite strong opposition from local governments and communities across the United States regarding land use, electricity consumption, water usage, and environmental impacts of new data centers, a new POLITICO poll shows that public opinion at the national level remains undecided and not clearly negative. The survey found that voters generally have a neutral or slightly positive attitude toward "building a data center in this area," with 37% expressing support, 28% opposing, and 36% remaining neutral. The most frequently mentioned potential benefits were job creation and economic gains, while the primary concern was rising electricity prices. Industry insiders believe that the controversy surrounding data centers exhibits a clear "not-in-my-backyard" (NIMBY) effect: they are less sensitive on an abstract level, but once a project is proposed locally, opposition quickly intensifies and becomes politicized.
The poll also shows that political polarization around data centers is emerging. Republican voters show higher support for new data centers than Democratic voters, while Democratic local leaders have recently emphasized requiring companies to share the costs of grid upgrades and public expenses. As AI-driven data center construction spreads beyond traditional core states, tech companies will face increasing local political pressure. Analysts point out that tech executives have recently moved closer to Trump and the Republican Party at the national political level, which may indirectly influence local attitudes toward data center projects, increasing the risk of them being labeled as partisan. With hundreds of new projects about to be implemented, how the industry can alleviate cost and environmental concerns at the local level while avoiding being drawn into partisan conflicts will become a key factor in its successful expansion.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856443934577738/
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