Protests against data centers supporting artificial intelligence and cloud technologies are intensifying in the United States. According to research firm Data Center Watch, at least 75 data center projects worth a total of $130 billion were suspended or delayed in the first three months of 2026. This figure is equal to the number of projects blocked in the entire year of 2025.
Experts say that local residents are concerned that data centers will increase electricity prices, consume large amounts of water and create noise. Polls show that a majority of Americans do not support the construction of new data centers near residential areas.
As of May 2026, at least 69 local governments in the United States have imposed restrictions on new data centers. The most notable of these decisions was adopted in Seattle. The city government imposed a one-year moratorium covering five large projects.
The issue has become a topic of discussion among both Republicans and Democrats. As the US government tries to gain an edge in the AI race with China, local communities are resisting new projects due to environmental and infrastructure concerns. Experts warn that this trend could negatively impact the pace of future development of computing power and AI infrastructure.
