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By Joe Edwards
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What began as scattered local opposition to data centers is increasingly becoming a national political issue.
Policy action appears to be shifting alongside public sentiment. A recent Gallup Poll found that seven in 10 Americans object to building artificial intelligence data centers in their community.
There are now more than 4,300 data centers—built to train, deploy and deliver AI—across the U.S., according to Data Center Map. This includes over 600 in Virginia, more than 460 in Texas, and over 130 in New York.
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These developments coincide with the launch of a new website by environmental activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich, aimed at tracking data center-related concerns, as the rapid spread of AI-driven facilities increasingly comes into conflict with local communities.
Policymakers Begin to Respond
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On Wednesday, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced statewide plans to ensure data centers support the grid infrastructure required for their expansion and require them to report on energy and water use.
At the same time, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro released details on standards that data center developers must meet to receive state support, including demonstrating how projects will benefit local communities, address or offset impacts, and be developed responsibly.
New York Businesses Push for Statewide Moratorium
That pressure is also coming directly from the business community.
Nearly 500 New York businesses have urged Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to back legislation imposing a temporary statewide moratorium on permitting and building new data centers, warning the "explosive growth" of the sector could hit small firms hardest.
They argue rapid expansion is "generating more fossil fuel pollution, straining water resources, devouring land, and raising electricity prices," driving up operating costs while "depleting and poisoning the natural resources our businesses rely on."
The signers say officials have lacked the time to set "essential guardrails," and caution proposed facilities could push statewide electricity use "potentially exceeding that of all the state’s households combined," requiring more gas infrastructure and leaving communities with "air, water, and noise pollution" but few permanent jobs.
Newsweek contacted Hochul’s office via email on Thursday for comment on the letter.
Texas Official Calls for Pause
Similar concerns are emerging in other high-growth states.
In Texas, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has called for a "temporary moratorium on new hyperscale data center development in Texas" while the state assesses "long-term impacts on our infrastructure, agricultural economy, and communities."
He said the "explosive growth" is "rapidly consuming our land, water, and power," with facilities rising at "breakneck speed" across rural Texas.
Miller argued many centers "consume enough electricity to power entire towns" and draw massive volumes of water for cooling, even amid ongoing drought, forcing rural areas to compete with corporate giants. He called for "breathing room" to craft responsible guardrails "before the industry outgrows our ability to manage it."
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Local Governments Move to Block Projects
Some New Jersey towns have moved to ban them altogether.
As reported by WHYY, East Greenwich Township approved a ban on data centers as an American Tower application for a 17,000-square-foot facility remained pending before the township’s combined planning and zoning board. The outlet also reported that Millville city commissioners unanimously voted to ban data centers at a May 19 meeting.
"We recognize that data centers are increasingly discussed in public forums, and it’s important to note that not all facilities are the same. Our strategy focuses on highly efficient, interconnected data centers as well as smaller, distributed Edge facilities—both of which are significantly smaller in size and are much less resources-intensive than large hyperscale data centers often cited in public discourse," American Tower told Newsweek.
"Across all of our projects, we are committed to transparent engagement with local communities and working closely with municipal leaders and authorities. We take community feedback seriously and strive to design and operate our facilities in a way that aligns with local priorities while delivering the infrastructure needed to support continued digital growth."
In Monroe Township, WHYY said officials banned all data centers as defined as facilities tied to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cryptocurrency operations and also prohibited land uses considered similar, after residents opposed a proposed 1.6 million-square-foot project.
The outlet added that other municipalities have enacted similar bans, including Andover Township and Logan Township.
Residents Warn of Local Impacts in Arizona and Georgia
On the ground, opposition is often driven by concerns about day-to-day impacts.
Axios reported that some Arizona neighborhoods are pushing back against new data center proposals, but often with limited success. The outlet said opponents argue the facilities can worsen day-to-day living conditions, citing concerns about ongoing noise, increased strain on water resources, and an overall decline in quality of life.
Commissioners argued the on-site power component could help the wider grid and described the site as suitable for industrial use, with the nearest neighborhood about a mile away. It also reported the developer held open houses and public meetings, and cited an industry representative who said that kind of outreach can address common worries (including water use) and that data centers are needed for growing digital demand and can generate substantial tax revenue.
In Georgia, the New York Post reported that Georgia Power was pursuing eminent domain and permanent easements to build Project Wansley, a new high-voltage transmission corridor through Coweta and Fayette Counties that it said would support multiple AI-related data centers.
The Post said more than 330 properties fall along the route and that roughly 20 to 30 homes could be demolished, while other owners could face towers placed close to houses. It described residents disputing appraisals and compensation and said some homeowners viewed the process as pressured by the threat of condemnation.
"Every day, as we work to expand and enhance our power grid to serve a growing state, we’re also working to minimize the impact of construction on our neighbors and communities," a spokesperson for Georgia Power told Newsweek.
They said that line was being developed "to serve increased load growth in the area, which may include new manufacturing and residents, data centers, as well as add overall reliability and resiliency for the area," adding that it was not being developed for any single customer.
"We have agreements with the majority of the homeowners whose houses need to be acquired for this project and are continuing negotiations with the few remaining properties," the spokesperson said.
"Using eminent domain is a last resort for our company when all other options have been exhausted and, in fact, less than 1 percent of all of the land transactions we reach involve it," they added.
Billions Stalled in Proposed Projects
The growing resistance is already having measurable consequences for development.
Miquel Vila, lead researcher at applied AI research firm 10a Labs, told market research and data provider Industrial Info Resources that opposition to data centers at the local level "is rising, and consolidating."
"Until recently, opposition was fragmented and localized, but it is becoming more mainstream and interconnected now," Vila said.
The researcher told Industrial Info Resources that last year, 17 proposed projects were delayed and 31 were canceled, with a combined value of at least $156 billion. It added that 11 states have been considering enacting temporary halts on new data centers.
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