Fox News Poll Finds 70% Oppose Local AI Data Centers as 79% Favor Slower Buildout
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
Fox News Poll Finds 70% Oppose Local AI Data Centers as 79% Favor Slower Buildout
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
Summary
A Fox News survey of 1,003 registered voters found 70% oppose building AI-supporting data centers in their own area, while only 30% favor them.
Environmental concerns drive that resistance: 50% of opponents cite energy, water, pollution, noise or broader local impact, and nearly 8 in 10 voters prefer slowing construction rather than accelerating to compete with China.
Support is strongest among MAGA backers and Republican men, with 46% and 45% favoring data centers, while white college-educated women and liberals are the most opposed at 84% and 80%.
Views of AI itself are less negative than views of the facilities behind it, with 45% favorable and 54% unfavorable; voters under 30 are the least positive on AI at 38% favorable.
The July 17-20 poll suggests the political obstacle to U.S. AI expansion is increasingly local siting and environmental backlash, not just attitudes toward the technology.