Opposition to artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is accelerating across the United States, with local resistance blocking or delaying at least 75 projects worth about $130 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report.
The report by Data Center Watch published earlier this month, covering January through March, said Q1 marked the largest single-quarter concentration of disrupted data center developments on record, underscoring growing regulatory, environmental, and community pushback against rapid AI infrastructure expansion.
Resistance Goes National Data Center Watch said pushback is no longer limited to isolated local disputes.
The number of active opposition groups more than doubled since the end of Q4 2025, reaching communities across 49 states.
Petition signatures collected in the first quarter alone nearly matched all signatures gathered in the second half of 2025.
