Public backlash to the growth of data centers is rising, prompting local and state governments to seek moratoriums and new regulations on the facilities.President Donald Trump favors the rapid buildout of data centers to advance artificial intelligence technology. But members of the public are worried that data centers can drive up electricity costs, use up the water supply, and create noise.A Gallup poll conducted in early March found that seven out of 10 people oppose constructing data centers for AI in their area, with 48% strongly opposed to the idea.
Many communities and states are demanding more transparency from developers seeking to build data centers or seeking to slow down the process.
As of February, more than 300 bills related to data centers had been filed across 30 states, according to Multistate, a local and state government relations firm that tracks data center policy. That is a large increase from the entirety of 2025, when fewer than 200 bills addressing data center issues were introduced across 40-plus states.
Much of the public interest relates to data centers’ use of electricity. Data centers in 2024 consumed about 183 terawatt-hours of electricity, according to Pew Research, which found that, by 2030, electricity consumption is projected to be 133% higher than the 2024 level.
