Americans' Concern Over AI's Environmental Impact Grows, Poll Finds

A growing number of Americans, across the political spectrum, are expressing concern about the environmental consequences of artificial intelligence and its associated data centers. According to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, 53% of Americans are now “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI's environmental impact, an increase from 41% last year.

This concern is shared by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. This year, 65% of Democrats, 42% of Republicans, and 49% of Independents reported being highly worried, compared to previous figures. The poll found that Americans are more concerned about AI's environmental impact than that of other industries with substantial footprints, such as air travel or the meat industry.

Data Center Growth and Environmental Worries

The expansion of data centers, essential for training and running large-scale AI models, is a key driver of these concerns. The U.S. currently has 1,287 operational data centers, with over 2,000 more planned, according to market intelligence company Clearview. Virginia and Texas lead in operational data centers, but new developments are increasingly planned in rural areas of the South and Midwest.

Majorities of Americans are worried about the strain data centers place on electricity prices and local water supplies. A United Nations report estimates that water usage by AI could equal the needs of 1.3 billion people by 2030. In the U.S., data centers could account for nearly 12% of electricity consumption by 2030.

Support for Regulation and Clean Energy

Despite the rapid growth, a majority of Americans, approximately 60%, support measures to regulate data center development. This includes a majority of both Democrats and Republicans who favor limiting the number of new data centers built. Furthermore, about two-thirds of U.S. adults favor requiring data centers to be powered by clean energy sources like wind or solar, with strong support from Democrats and significant backing from Republicans.

However, the reliance on traditional energy sources is projected to increase. Without widespread clean energy alternatives, U.S. data centers could consume more natural gas than most nations by 2035, according to BloombergNEF.

Political Perspectives on Data Centers

The Trump administration has actively promoted data center expansion, framing them as crucial for economic growth and prosperity. Conversely, a notable portion of Republicans, about 3 in 10, still believe data centers offer limited benefits for infrastructure improvement and job creation. Public perception regarding the direct benefits of data centers for technological advancement and job creation remains mixed, with many Americans expressing uncertainty or deeming them "somewhat" or "not very" beneficial.

In response to these growing environmental concerns and uncertainties, a significant number of cities and states have implemented moratoriums on new data center construction, pending further understanding of their impacts. As of September 2026, over 300 moratoriums have been enacted across 44 states and more than 200 localities, according to the Urban Institute.

Michael Greenstone, director of the University of Chicago institute that collaborated on the survey, emphasized the real-time, large-scale nature of this development, stating, “We’re undertaking a massive experiment in real time, and I don’t think there’ll be any putting the milk back in the bottle.”