Not in my backyard? How consumers feel about data centers in their community

By Michael Nocerino and Dan Thompson

The explosive growth in AI technology usage is driving the need for more data center facilities to handle the resulting demand. Across the US, there are scattered reports of data center facilities wreaking havoc on the power and water systems they connect to, sparking concerns that local communities will be left out in the cold if a data center moves in next door. The Population Representative sample in our latest Macroeconomic Outlook, Consumer Spending survey was asked a series of questions to gauge their support for or opposition to the construction of data center facilities in their community.