Americans are more likely to support datacenters if it means lower bills
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted September 16 to 21, 2026, 77.7% oppose a large data center within 10 miles of home. Support reaches 69.8% when a proposed community investment would lower electricity bills.
Each benefit scenario describes a company investing about $100 million in the community over ten years. Payments of about $5,000 per household also draw support from 65.8%.
The initial proposal draws opposition
Without a stated community benefit, 53.3% strongly oppose a nearby data center and 24.4% somewhat oppose it. Support totals 22.3%.
Every scenario keeps the location within 10 miles of the respondent’s home. The later questions add different uses for the proposed investment.
Topline
77.7% somewhat or strongly oppose a large data center being built within 10 miles of home.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Lower bills and direct payments draw support
When the money would lower electricity bills, 39.6% strongly favor the data center and 30.2% somewhat favor it, for 69.8% support.
Direct household payments draw 65.8% support, including 36.2% who strongly favor the proposal. These are separate answers to hypothetical offers; the totals do not establish how many individual respondents changed their minds.
Topline
69.8% of Americans favor a data center within 10 miles of home when a hypothetical $100 million community investment over ten years funds lower electricity bills.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Topline
65.8% of Americans favor a data center within 10 miles of home when a hypothetical $100 million community investment over ten years funds payments of about $5,000 per household.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
How the community spends the money matters
A $50,000 bonus for every public-school teacher draws 54.8% support. Funding for local police and fire departments draws 53.0%.
Support falls to 25.7% when the money goes to local government to use however it wishes. Opposition to that version totals 74.3%.
Topline
74.3% of Americans oppose a data center within 10 miles of home when a hypothetical $100 million community investment over ten years goes to local government without restrictions.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Topline
54.8% of Americans favor a data center within 10 miles of home when a hypothetical $100 million community investment over ten years funds a $50,000 bonus for every public-school teacher.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Topline
53.0% of Americans favor a data center within 10 miles of home when a hypothetical $100 million community investment over ten years supports police and fire departments.
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
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 16–21, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,500 |
| Margin of error | ±2.6% |
| Module | Current Events Survey #2026-243 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
Would you favor or oppose a large data center being built within 10 miles of your home?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
- Paid to your local government to use however they wish
Cite this topic
September Verasight National Survey: Current Events and Prediction Markets, fielded September 16-21, 2026, N=1,500 US adults age 18+, +/- 2.6%.