A recent survey by The New York Times and Siena College involving 1,503 likely voters shows that 61% oppose building AI data centers in their local areas, while only 14% strongly support them. Opposition is particularly high among Kamala Harris supporters at 74%, compared to 45% among Donald Trump supporters.
Among those opposing the projects, 56% advocate for restrictive measures, while 38% support a total ban. Concerns are primarily driven by environmental impact and water usage, cited by 32% of opponents. Other concerns include local community impact at 21%, distrust of AI at 18%, regulatory issues at 10%, and economic factors at 9%.
Despite the negative sentiment, AI and data centers are not currently decisive factors for most voters, with less than 1% identifying them as the most important election issue. Only among voters aged 18 to 29 did 3% consider these infrastructure projects a significant factor for midterm elections.
When asked which party is more trusted to handle AI-related issues, 42% of respondents chose the Republican Party, while 40% preferred the Democratic Party. The survey highlights a growing tension between the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure by tech companies and local community concerns regarding resources.
