A new analysis from Data Center Watch, a project operated by AI intelligence firm 10a Labs, found that at least 75 US data center projects valued at approximately $130 billion were delayed or blocked during the first quarter of 2026. That remarkably high figure equals roughly the total value of projects disrupted during all of 2025, a dramatic sign that opposition to data center construction is rapidly increasing.
The report portrays a big shift in attitude toward data centers, which are essential to training and running LLMs and generative AI platforms. Many residents are now deeply concerned about the impact these facilities could have on local resources and quality of life.
Among the most frequently cited concerns are rising electricity demand, increased water consumption for cooling systems, noise generated by facility operations, and larger environmental effects. Many communities are questioning whether the economic benefits promised by developers outweigh the costs borne by local residents.
The resistance movement has grown rapidly. According to the report, active opposition expanded from 396 groups at the end of 2025 to 833 organizations by March 2026. Those groups are now active in 49 states. Maryland, Ohio, and Texas recorded some of the highest levels of organized opposition.
Rapid Community Organizing
In many cases, community groups are organizing before formal project applications are submitted. The report notes that discussion of a potential data center development can be enough to trigger local campaigns aimed at influencing planning boards and elected officials.
The grassroots movement is also beginning to influence lawmakers. Data Center Watch identified proposals for data center moratoriums or development pauses in 14 states during the first quarter. Researchers also found that state legislatures introduced more than 300 bills related to data center regulation during the opening weeks of 2026.
The proposed restrictions have drawn support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Data center opposition is a rare issue that garners bipartisan support.
Although no statewide moratorium has yet become law, some proposals have advanced significantly. Maine lawmakers approved legislation that would have temporarily halted permitting for large facilities with substantial power requirements. Governor Janet Mills ultimately vetoed the measure, though the debate revealed growing concerns about the pace of data center expansion.
Local governments have also become more active. Dozens of jurisdictions have approved temporary pauses or restrictions while officials study the potential effects of new developments. Seattle recently enacted a one-year pause affecting several proposed projects, making it one of the highest-profile examples of municipal intervention.
The growing backlash creates a real challenge for tech giants. Major AI developers and cloud providers are investing massively in new infrastructure to secure the computing capacity needed for future models. Industry leaders argue that data center build out is essential to maintaining US competitiveness in AI, particularly as competition with China intensifies.
Supporters also emphasize the economic benefits associated with data center projects, including construction activity, tax revenue, and forward-looking technology investment. They contend that some public concerns are based on incomplete information and that today’s facilities can be designed to minimize environmental impact.
Still, surveys indicate a substantial majority of Americans oppose having a large data center built near their homes. At this point, the widening gap between the AI sector’s data center ambitions and increasing local community concerns is becoming a core issue for the next phase of AI growth.
