Research on AI Data Centers, Costs, and Pollution
ReviewedNational
Study Details
- Pollster
- Blue Rose Research
- Sponsor
- Climate Power
- Sponsor Category
- Advocacy
- Field Dates
- Jan 30, 2026 – Feb 3, 2026
- Published
- Feb 20, 2026
- Geography
- National
- Sample Size
- n=5,428
- Margin of Error
- +/- 1.3%
- Mode
- online
- Population
- National electorate
Questions (10)
Q1. Have you heard about the construction of new data centers
AwarenessAI Infrastructure
Heard at least a little66.7%
Q2. Have you heard about the construction of data centers in your communities
AwarenessAI InfrastructureCommunity Impact
Have heard45%
Q3. Support for construction of data centers in areas where people live
Support/OpposeAI InfrastructureCommunity Impact
Oppose52%
Support16%
Q4. Do the burdens of data centers on communities outweigh the benefits
TradeoffAI InfrastructureCommunity Impact
Burdens outweigh benefits48%
Benefits outweigh burdens22%
Q5. Data centers will be built regardless of input from local communities
OtherAI InfrastructureCommunity ImpactRegulation
Agree55%
Local communities will have a say27%
Q6. Support for construction of data centers powered by fossil fuels
Support/OpposeAI InfrastructureEnergyEnvironment
Net oppose16%
Q7. Support for data centers powered by clean energy
Support/OpposeAI InfrastructureEnergyEnvironment
Net support25%
Q8. Who do you trust more to protect your communities from the potential negative impacts of data centers
OtherAI InfrastructureCommunity ImpactRegulation
Your Governor66%
Democrats in Congress48%
Trump administration44%
Republicans in Congress43%
Q9. Head-to-head matchup: utility costs vs other data center concerns
ConcernAI InfrastructureElectricity Costs
Utility costs selected64%
Q10. Head-to-head matchup: energy consumption vs other data center concerns
ConcernAI InfrastructureEnergyGrid
Energy consumption selected59%