Public opposition in the United States has significantly impacted the development of data centers. According to Data Center Watch, 843 activist groups across 49 states are currently challenging new infrastructure projects. In the second quarter of 2026 alone, these efforts delayed 45 projects with a total value of $68 billion, accounting for half of all large-scale data centers announced during that period.
The scale of public resistance is increasing, with some petitions gathering substantial support. For instance, a single project in Tennessee collected over 500,000 signatures on Change.org in the second quarter. Consequently, approximately 30 states have introduced specific regulations governing the location, power consumption, and water usage of new facilities to address local concerns.
In response to these challenges, companies are increasingly opting for smaller data center projects, which are easier to approve and less costly to execute. This trend follows a first quarter where public intervention affected 75 projects valued at $130 billion. Similar protests against data center construction are now emerging in Europe, Australia, and South Africa.
