- Grassroots opposition to data centers is intensifying, with 61% of Americans opposing new builds in their communities, including 54% of Republicans, according to a recent poll.
- Since the beginning of the year, more than 500 jurisdictions have enacted severe constraints or bans on data center construction.
- The cancellation rate for contested data center projects has skyrocketed, rising from 20% in late 2024 to nearly 50% in the first half of 2026.
- Trump has urged Americans to 'get over it' and warned that communities should 'let data reign' to avoid being 'backwards and poor'.
- The AI industry, led by investor Gavin Baker, is launching a campaign with a $50 million war chest from the pro-AI super PAC Leading the Future to persuade skeptics.
- West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced plans to encourage data center development to use the revenue to slash the state income tax.
- Data centers are facing significant backlash, with many communities viewing them as detrimental to local interests.
- In recent weeks, the political landscape has shifted, with Republicans in key battlegrounds focusing on data centers as the issue has turned politically toxic.
- A recent poll indicated that only 15% of Americans support building a data center in their area, a significant drop from 43% approval a year earlier.
Trump's intervention comes as the AI industry faces a significant backlash against data centers, with a recent poll revealing that 61% of Americans oppose new builds. This includes 54% of Republicans, highlighting the political toxicity surrounding the issue.7
In response, Trump stated, "If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame," urging communities to embrace data centers for economic growth. He emphasized that rejecting these facilities could lead to communities becoming 'backwards and poor.'
The AI sector is mobilizing, with an advocacy group linked to the pro-AI super PAC, Leading the Future, launching a $50 million campaign to support data center development in key states like Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Prominent investor Gavin Baker argues that modern data centers can utilize closed-loop cooling and recycled water to mitigate environmental concerns, while also generating substantial tax revenue for local governments.5
Despite these efforts, the opposition remains fierce. A recent report indicated that over 500 jurisdictions have enacted restrictions or bans on data center construction this year, with a cancellation rate for contested projects soaring to 50% in the first half of 2026. Maya Barkin, an analyst, noted, “At this point, we do not think the recent wave of opposition and policy intervention has materially changed our national capacity growth trajectory.”
“The industry's counteroffensive includes a $50 million war chest from Leading the Future, targeting Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Heatmap counts over 500 jurisdictions with new restrictions, and contested projects face a 50% cancellation rate in the first half of 2026.”
