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New polling from Gallup shows that Americans really, really don’t like AI data centers being constructed in their neighborhoods. How much do they hate the rise of AI infrastructure? More Americans say they oppose data centers being built near them than oppose nuclear power plants in the same area.
A whopping 71% of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their area, according to Gallup, with 23% somewhat opposed and 48% strongly opposed. Just 7% of Americans strongly support the construction of data centers near them, while another 20% say they somewhat support it.
Compare that with nuclear power plants, where 53% of Americans oppose their nearby construction. Gallup first started asking Americans about their attitudes on the construction of nuclear power plants in 2001, and that was the highest opposition of the past quarter-century. Back in 2001, 63% of Americans opposed having nuclear power plants close to their neighborhoods. And that’s quite a number to keep in perspective.
Again, 71% of Americans currently oppose the construction of data centers in their area, which is significantly higher than nuclear power plant opposition has been since Gallup started asking the question.
