What do Americans think about data centers?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain, the information provided and any links below:
Data centers are large buildings that house rows of computer servers, data storage systems and networking equipment, as well as the power and cooling systems that keep them running. This infrastructure is essential for companies that provide digital services. Whenever you send an email, stream your favorite TV show, save a family photo to “the cloud” or ask a chatbot a question, you’re interacting with a data center. According to the data from the visual above, what percent of Americans favor the construction of data centers where they live?
According to Cloudscene, the U.S. currently has 5427 data centers, with one third of U.S. data centers in just three states: Virginia, Texas, and California. According to the data from the visual above, what portion of Americans oppose local construction of data centers?
While data centers have been around for decades, they’ve quickly expanded in recent years to support increasingly popular generative AI models. Do you support the construction of data centers where you live?
Total annual U.S. electricity consumption hit a record high in 2024, and that ceiling could rise if data centers continue expanding at their current pace. U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, more than 4% of the country’s total electricity consumption last year – roughly equivalent to the annual electricity demand of the entire nation of Pakistan. In addition to consuming great amounts of electricity, data centers’ cooling systems often require a large amount of water. In 2023, the country’s data centers directly consumed about 17 billion gallons of water. But massive U.S. water increases are projected and by 2028, AI in the U.S. could consume as much as 720 billion gallons of water annually just for cooling, which is enough to meet the indoor needs of 18.5 million households. This has already led to water shortages in various parts of the country. According to the data from the visual below* what is the number one reason American’s oppose construction of data centers?
Since data centers are often geographically concentrated, they can significantly strain the power grids. In 2023, data centers consumed about 26% of the total electricity supply in Virginia and significant shares of the supply in North Dakota (15%), Nebraska (12%), Iowa (11%) and Oregon (11%), according to the Electric Power Research Institute. As tech companies build data centers worldwide to advance artificial intelligence, vulnerable communities have been hit by blackouts and water shortages. Increased data center power usage has also led to increased energy rates. NIMBYism (an acronym for "Not In My Backyard") describes the opposition of residents to proposed developments in their local communities. While people may acknowledge the need for infrastructure or housing, they resist it being built near their own homes, often out of concern for changing neighborhood character or declining property values. Explain how NIMBYism impacts Americans’ feelings about data centers.
Americans may see more widespread price hikes in coming years. One study from Carnegie Mellon University estimates that data centers and cryptocurrency mining could lead to an 8% increase in the average U.S. electricity bill by 2030, potentially exceeding 25% in the highest-demand markets of central and northern Virginia. Do you think the average American is willing to pay more for electricity in order to finance increased AI and crypto?
According to the data from the visual below how does political party affiliation impact feelings about data center construction?
My friend Maddy said that Americans can’t agree on anything. But according to the data from the visual below public opinion on data centers represent a rare bipartisan consensus (something people in both parties agree on.) Why do you think Democrats and Republicans can agree on their hatred of data centers?
Do you think federalism makes it harder or easier to stop data centers from being built?
Lawmakers and utility companies have faced pressure in some states to protect residents from blackouts and higher electricity bills as U.S. data centers expand their footprint. Currently, there is no federal registration requirement for data centers and very few laws regulating their operation. Despite current public outrage towards data centers major tech companies (hyperscalers)—specifically Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta—are projected to spend over $700 billion on AI infrastructure and data centers in 2026, marking a record-setting, multi-year investment surge to build out AI capabilities. This represents a 71% increase over 2025 levels, largely driven by demand for AI, cloud services, and specialized hardware like chips and networking equipment. Do you think people’s hatred of data centers will beat big tech’s love of data centers?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Download this organizer’s guide to fighting data center construction. Get in touch with organizing@kairosfellows.org if you’d like to have Kairos Fellowship facilitate a tech power, digital organizing, or data center resistance training for your group or organization.
Get Creative
Imagine your life without data centers. Consider the net positive and negative effect of having no data centers. Make a creative response to the idea of a world without data centers.
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