WorkThe story, in brief
Americans would rather live next to a nuclear plant than an AI data center, Gallup poll finds
71% of Americans oppose AI data centers nearby—more than nuclear plants. Here's why energy and water use are becoming a political liability for the industry.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
Public opposition to AI infrastructure is crystallizing around environmental and utility costs, creating regulatory and community risk for data center expansion plans. This signals potential friction for the $455B+ compute buildout leaders are banking on.
The key facts
4 to know71% of Americans oppose building AI data centers near homes
53% oppose nearby nuclear power plants (comparison baseline)
Top concerns: water/energy use, pollution, rising utility costs
Gallup poll (May 2026)
Go to the source
The Decoderthe-decoder.com
Publisher excerpt: According to a new Gallup poll, 71 percent of Americans oppose building AI data centers near their homes, far more than the 53 percent who object to a nearby nuclear power plant. The top concerns are high water and energy use, pollution, and rising utility costs.