Most people think data centers' water and energy costs outweigh the economic benefits
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 68.7% say the costs of new data centers to their state's water and energy resources outweigh the economic benefits. The other 31.3% put benefits such as jobs and tax revenue first.
Opposition is strongest close to home: 57.5% oppose a data center being built in their community, and 48.8% oppose new data centers in their state.
Costs outweigh benefits
Respondents chose between two statements about data centers in their state. The water and energy costs win out, 68.7% to 31.3%.
The question asks which view comes closest, even if neither is exactly right. It records how people weigh the tradeoff, not the actual costs.
Topline
68.7% of Americans say data centers' water and energy costs to their state outweigh the economic benefits.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Local opposition is strong
Some 45.5% strongly oppose a data center in their community, and 12.0% somewhat oppose one. Support totals 17.5%.
Statewide, 48.8% oppose new or additional data centers and 22.5% support them. On pace, 45.1% say development in their state is moving too fast and needs more research or regulation, while 5.5% say it is too slow.
Topline
57.5% somewhat or strongly oppose a data center being built in their community.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Topline
48.8% oppose new or additional data centers in their state, and 22.5% support them.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Topline
45.1% say data center development in their state is moving too fast, and 5.5% say too slow.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Residents doubt they have a say
Asked what state leaders should do, 53.2% want the public and local residents to be able to influence decisions. Another 50.1% want developers required to provide community benefits, and 48.2% want limits on water and energy use.
Yet 63.9% think ordinary residents have little or no influence over where major projects are built, and 62.2% are not confident officials would take residents' views into account. These are separate questions, so they do not show how many people hold all of these views.
Topline
53.2% want state leaders to make sure local residents can influence data center decisions.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Topline
63.9% think ordinary residents have little or no influence over where major projects are built.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Topline
62.2% are not confident officials would take residents' views into account on data centers.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 25–30, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | Society, Culture, & Identity |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
When it comes to data center projects in the state where you live, which comes closest to your view, even if neither is exactly right?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
How would you feel about a data center being built in your community?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
By data centers, we mean buildings filled with computer equipment that powers streaming services, artificial intelligence (AI), online banking, and other things.
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
Thinking about data centers in the state where you live, the development process is:
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
What should leaders in your state be doing when it comes to data center development?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
Thinking about major development projects such as data centers, how much influence do you think ordinary residents generally have over decisions about whether and where these projects are built?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
How confident are you that government officials responsible for data center development in your area would take the views of local residents into account when making decisions about whether and where data centers are built?
Cite this topic
APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.