Voters across the United States are largely opposed to the construction of data centers, with a new Fox News poll revealing a 40-point margin against such expansion. The survey found that 70% of voters oppose building data centers in their areas, while only 30% favor it.
Environmental concerns were cited as the primary reason for opposition by half of the respondents who disapproved of data centers. These concerns include the significant energy and water usage associated with these facilities, as well as potential pollution and noise. Quality-of-life issues were mentioned by 14% of opponents, economic effects by 11%, and a general negative view of artificial intelligence (AI) by another 11%.
Supporters of data center development most frequently pointed to economic benefits, such as job creation, economic growth, community investment, and tax revenue, as their reasons for support. Technological necessity and future progress were cited by 21% of proponents, while only 2% prioritized staying ahead of global competitors.
The poll also revealed differing views on AI technology itself. While 45% of voters view AI favorably, 54% hold an unfavorable view. This represents a slight improvement from April, when AI was underwater by 11 points, compared to the current 9-point deficit.
Views on AI vary among different demographics. MAGA Republicans show higher favorability (55%), as do voters with graduate degrees (52%) and conservatives (50%). Conversely, Democrats (41%), those without a college degree (43%), liberals (37%), and women (40%) expressed less favorable opinions.
Regarding the pace of data center construction, approximately 80% of voters prefer a slower approach to address environmental and community concerns. Only about 20% favor rapid expansion to maintain a competitive edge internationally. While majorities across all age groups and political affiliations prefer a slower adoption, MAGA Republicans (36%) and very conservatives (35%) were more likely to prioritize rapid expansion.
Younger voters, typically perceived as tech-savvy, showed the lowest favorability for AI, with only 38% of those under 30 viewing it positively, compared to 48% of those aged 30-44 and 44% of those 45 and over. Despite these generational differences in AI views, attitudes toward data center construction remained consistent, with roughly 7 in 10 voters in every age group opposing them and a similar proportion favoring a slower, more considered approach.
The survey was conducted from July 17-20, 2026, interviewing 1,003 registered voters nationwide. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.