Data Center · Axios · Axios
By the numbers: Overall, the poll found that about 40% of respondents supported data centers in their areas
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The poll also found that about two-thirds of those surveyed said a data center would lead local electricity prices to rise "a lot" or "somewhat.
Key facts
- Overall, the poll found that about 40% of respondents supported data centers in their areas, with about 32% opposed
- The poll could shape how developers engage with communities as they try to build more data centers to meet AI's massive electricity demands, said Harvard researcher Stephen Ansolabehere, who oversaw
- The poll also found that about two-thirds of those surveyed said a data center would lead local electricity prices to rise "a lot" or "somewhat
- Frustration over constituents' electricity bills has prompted lawmakers in several states to try to prevent the growing number of data centers from causing rate hikes
Summary
Public resistance to data centers isn't driven as much by electricity prices as conventional wisdom suggests, it's more about how the giant projects might alter their communities, a new Harvard/MIT poll shows. The poll could shape how developers engage with communities as they try to build more data centers to meet AI's massive electricity demands, said Harvard researcher Stephen Ansolabehere, who oversaw the poll. Overall, the poll found that about 40% of respondents supported data centers in their areas, with about 32% opposed. That's less than the support for auto factories and e-commerce warehouses, but was ahead of petrochemical facilities, which drew 23% backing and 52% opposition.