- At least 45 U.S. data center projects worth $68 billion were blocked or delayed from April to June 2026.
- Opposition groups now number 843 across 49 states, with Hawaii the only exception.
- Roughly 30 statehouses introduced legislation addressing data center siting, water, power and infrastructure costs.
- A single Tennessee petition on Change.org gathered more than 500,000 signatures.
- The first half of 2026 saw 120 total disrupted projects valued at approximately $198 billion.
Widespread local opposition has disrupted at least 45 proposed U.S. data center developments worth nearly $68 billion between April and June 2026, according to Data Center Watch, a research project operated by AI intelligence company 10a Labs. The sustained backlash, now spanning 49 states with 843 active opposition groups, reflects a structural shift in how communities respond to the infrastructure boom powering artificial intelligence.
Why communities are saying no
The objections span a range of local concerns. Residents and advocacy organizations have raised alarms about electricity demand, water consumption, noise, pressure on utility rates, land use, property values and the use of tax incentives for developments requiring billions in investment.
Data Center Watch lead analyst Miquel Vila said the movement continues to widen. "New groups continue to emerge, opposition is appearing across a wide range of states and jurisdictions, and online petition signatures continue to grow."
A Gallup survey conducted in March found 70% of Americans opposed construction of an AI data center in their local area, including 48% who said they strongly opposed such a project.
State legislatures step in
Roughly 30 statehouses have introduced or adopted legislation, resolutions or executive actions addressing data center development. Measures now cover siting restrictions, water supply limits, power consumption caps and infrastructure cost-sharing requirements.
Communities have increasingly imposed moratoriums before developers can submit proposals, transforming what were once zoning disputes into broader debates over electric grids, water resources and the economic trade-offs of AI infrastructure.
The industry response
CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator acknowledged that residents' concerns about infrastructure are legitimate and said the industry needs to communicate more effectively with communities before construction begins.
Intrator argued that prohibiting construction in one jurisdiction would primarily redirect investment elsewhere rather than stop expansion. "The demand for compute will not be altered by a jurisdiction saying you're not allowed to build data centers here. All that will do is cause the data center to move to a different location" he said.
Historical context
The current resistance echoes earlier grassroots movements against industrial development dating to the 1970s environmental movement. What distinguishes today's backlash is its scale and speed. The 75 projects disrupted in the first quarter of 2026 alone roughly matched the total affected during all of 2025.
The opposition also reflects growing skepticism toward technology companies' influence, a sentiment that has intensified as AI systems proliferate into daily life. Tech giants including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet argue they need the facilities to compete with China. President Donald Trump has dismissed opposition as a "sick conspiracy," saying "the only one that is happy about it is China."
What comes next
The collision between technology companies seeking unprecedented computing capacity and increasingly organized communities demanding a voice over where infrastructure gets built shows no signs of resolution. During the first six months of 2026 alone, at least 120 projects worth approximately $198 billion were blocked or delayed.
For developers, securing land and financing is no longer sufficient. Companies increasingly must persuade utilities, local officials and residents that proposed facilities will not shift infrastructure costs or resource burdens onto surrounding communities.
For opponents, the first half of 2026 demonstrated that local organizing can postpone projects carrying tens of billions in investment. The next quarter's figures will reveal whether fewer communities are fighting—or whether fewer projects are reaching the stage where residents can challenge them.
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