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The anti-data center movement in the United States spreads across the country, and the AI infrastructure boom encounters resistance

2026-07-18·newswire-us-stock-233402

The anti-data center movement in the United States spreads across the country, and the AI infrastructure boom encounters resistance.

Protests against large-scale data center construction were held in at least 125 locations in the United States on Saturday, local time, in the first coordinated nationwide effort to vent dissatisfaction with artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure construction that has accelerated over the past year and triggered local political unrest.

The protest, coordinated by a grassroots organization called Humans First, targeted the wave of "unsupervised" data center construction and the "unacceptable infringement" of public freedoms caused by such expansion.

At the same time, technology company executives continue to describe the development prospects of AI, believing that artificial intelligence will promote economic growth, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, conquer diseases, and help humans get rid of a large number of repetitive tasks.

As of the end of 2025, more than 1,400 AI data centers have been built or approved for construction in the United States, and more projects will be proposed in 2026. But critics argue that these potential benefits may not be enough to offset the corresponding risks. In recent years, several U.S.

towns and counties have become the forefront of opposition to data center projects. In some cases, local officials signed confidentiality agreements with developers to approve the projects despite objections from residents or a lack of regulatory review.

Now, as voters are increasingly concerned that data center construction may drive up electricity bills, consume precious water resources, and cause pollution, politicians at the state and federal levels in the United States have also begun to accelerate actions in an attempt to respond to growing public pressure.

It is reported that the data center opposition movement is one of the few issues that can transcend ideological differences in the United States and unite Americans. According to a June poll, only about one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of U.S. data center construction.

Only 14% of respondents expressed support for technology giants to build local data centers to support AI projects.

According to a report released by Data Center Watch, in the first three months of this year alone, grassroots organizations across the United States have pushed for the postponement or cancellation of at least 75 data center projects, involving a total investment of more than $130 billion.

Red states and blue states participate While Humanity First co-founder Amy Kremer likened the movement to the early days of the conservative Tea Party movement in 2009, she said the outrage against data centers is non-partisan. Kremer said: "No issue has aroused more anger among conservative grassroots voters than large-scale AI data centers.

These data centers often enjoy government subsidies, and the Republican Party has always claimed to oppose this kind of corporate welfare, but now it is being forced into communities that do not welcome them." "They just woke up one day and found out that this huge thing was going to be built in their neighborhood and they didn't want it," Kremer said.

She predicts that the issue of data center construction will become an important issue in the U.S. midterm elections in November this year and the 2028 presidential election.

Kremer criticized Republicans for "letting go" on big technology companies, but she and some organizers also said they disapproved of policies such as the data center approval moratorium adopted by Democratic-controlled New York state.

Just this Tuesday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the latest state executive order banning the construction of large data centers using 50 megawatts or more of power within one year, becoming the first state in the United States to suspend the construction of new large data centers.

Organizers of the protests say they want transparency in the development process, protection of resources and environmental health, benefits for communities such as well-paying union jobs, and mechanisms to hold developers accountable when they fail to deliver on their promises.

As of Saturday, Texas, a Republican hotspot for data center development, is expected to top the list of states with 16 protests. Texas has become a popular destination for companies to build AI data centers due to its advantages such as abundant land, convenient power grid access, and potential tax incentives.

There were 11 in the swing state of Georgia, seven each in Democratic-run California, Republican-run Florida and swing state Pennsylvania. (

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Full text

The anti-data center movement in the United States spreads across the country, and the AI infrastructure boom encounters resistance

Protests against large-scale data center construction were held in at least 125 locations in the United States on Saturday, local time, in the first coordinated nationwide effort to vent dissatisfaction with artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure construction that has accelerated over the past year and triggered local political unrest. The protest, coordinated by a grassroots organization called Humans First, targeted the wave of "unsupervised" data center construction and the "unacceptable infringement" of public freedoms caused by such expansion. At the same time, technology company executives continue to describe the development prospects of AI, believing that artificial intelligence will promote economic growth, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, conquer diseases, and help humans get rid of a large number of repetitive tasks. As of the end of 2025, more than 1,400 AI data centers have been built or approved for construction in the United States, and more projects will be proposed in 2026. But critics argue that these potential benefits may not be enough to offset the corresponding risks. In recent years, several U.S. towns and counties have become the forefront of opposition to data center projects. In some cases, local officials signed confidentiality agreements with developers to approve the projects despite objections from residents or a lack of regulatory review. Now, as voters are increasingly concerned that data center construction may drive up electricity bills, consume precious water resources, and cause pollution, politicians at the state and federal levels in the United States have also begun to accelerate actions in an attempt to respond to growing public pressure. It is reported that the data center opposition movement is one of the few issues that can transcend ideological differences in the United States and unite Americans. According to a June poll, only about one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of U.S. data center construction. Only 14% of respondents expressed support for technology giants to build local data centers to support AI projects. According to a report released by Data Center Watch, in the first three months of this year alone, grassroots organizations across the United States have pushed for the postponement or cancellation of at least 75 data center projects, involving a total investment of more than $130 billion. Red states and blue states participate While Humanity First co-founder Amy Kremer likened the movement to the early days of the conservative Tea Party movement in 2009, she said the outrage against data centers is non-partisan. Kremer said: "No issue has aroused more anger among conservative grassroots voters than large-scale AI data centers. These data centers often enjoy government subsidies, and the Republican Party has always claimed to oppose this kind of corporate welfare, but now it is being forced into communities that do not welcome them." "They just woke up one day and found out that this huge thing was going to be built in their neighborhood and they didn't want it," Kremer said. She predicts that the issue of data center construction will become an important issue in the U.S. midterm elections in November this year and the 2028 presidential election. Kremer criticized Republicans for "letting go" on big technology companies, but she and some organizers also said they disapproved of policies such as the data center approval moratorium adopted by Democratic-controlled New York state. Just this Tuesday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the latest state executive order banning the construction of large data centers using 50 megawatts or more of power within one year, becoming the first state in the United States to suspend the construction of new large data centers. Organizers of the protests say they want transparency in the development process, protection of resources and environmental health, benefits for communities such as well-paying union jobs, and mechanisms to hold developers accountable when they fail to deliver on their promises. As of Saturday, Texas, a Republican hotspot for data center development, is expected to top the list of states with 16 protests. Texas has become a popular destination for companies to build AI data centers due to its advantages such as abundant land, convenient power grid access, and potential tax incentives. There were 11 in the swing state of Georgia, seven each in Democratic-run California, Republican-run Florida and swing state Pennsylvania. (

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