# Most people think data centers' water and energy costs outweigh the economic benefits Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/data-center-costs-and-local-voice/ Published: 2026-10-23 > Featured topic in AI & Tech. 68.7% of Americans say the water and energy costs of data centers in their state outweigh the economic benefits. 62.2% doubt officials will consider residents' views. ## Overview: Water and energy worries outweigh jobs 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Supporting evidence ### 68.7% of Americans say data centers' water and energy costs to their state outweigh the economic benefits. Question: 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? Topline: - The costs of new data centers to the state’s water and energy resources outweigh their economic benefits, such as jobs and tax revenues.: 68.7% - The economic benefits of new data centers, such as jobs and tax revenue, outweigh their costs to the state’s water and energy resources.: 31.3% ### 57.5% somewhat or strongly oppose a data center being built in their community. Question: How would you feel about a data center being built in your community? Topline: - Strongly Oppose: 45.5% - Neither Support nor Oppose: 20.6% - Somewhat Oppose: 12.0% - Somewhat Support: 11.3% - Strongly Support: 6.2% ### 48.8% oppose new or additional data centers in their state, and 22.5% support them. Question: By data centers, we mean buildings filled with computer equipment that powers streaming services, artificial intelligence (AI), online banking, and other things. Topline: - Strongly oppose: 33.1% - Neither support nor oppose: 24.8% - Oppose: 15.7% - Support: 14.7% - Strongly support: 7.9% ### 45.1% say data center development in their state is moving too fast, and 5.5% say too slow. Question: Thinking about data centers in the state where you live, the development process is: Topline: - Too fast; more time is needed for more thorough research and/or regulation: 45.1% - Don’t know or not sure: 29.3% - Moving forward at about the right speed: 20.2% - Too slow; it should be sped up so projects can be built more quickly: 5.5% ### 53.2% want state leaders to make sure local residents can influence data center decisions. Question: What should leaders in your state be doing when it comes to data center development? Topline: - Ensure the public and local residents can participate in and influence decision-making: 53.2% - Require data center developers to provide benefits to the communities where they operate: 50.1% - Restrict the amount of water and energy used by data centers: 48.2% - Encourage data center development with some regulations: 25.6% - Leave decisions to local governments: 13.3% ### 63.9% think ordinary residents have little or no influence over where major projects are built. Question: 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? Topline: - Not very much: 43.8% - None at all: 20.1% - A fair amount: 19.4% - Don’t know or not sure: 9.6% - A great deal: 7.0% ### 62.2% are not confident officials would take residents' views into account on data centers. Question: 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? Topline: - Not too confident: 31.9% - Not at all confident: 30.3% - Somewhat confident: 22.0% - Don’t know or not sure: 10.6% - Very confident: 5.3% ## 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: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30 - 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 - [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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-95): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report - [How would you feel about a data center being built in your community?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-91): 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.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-93): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report - [Thinking about data centers in the state where you live, the development process is:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-94): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report - [What should leaders in your state be doing when it comes to data center development?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-96): 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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-98): 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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-99): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report ## Citation APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%. Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-95](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-95)