CBS News poll finds more oppose than favor data centers in their area

Many Americans are skeptical about having a data center in their area, fueled largely by what they perceive as negative impacts on the environment and resources. The construction of data centers in the U.S. has accelerated in recent years , but most Americans feel they don't know a lot about them yet. People's own lack of familiarity with data centers contributes to their unease about having one in their local area. While people tend not to favor them no matter how much they feel they know, the less they feel they know about data centers, the less likely they are to favor one. Overall, by more than two to one, more Americans oppose than favor having a new data center built in their area. Many aren't sure. The relatively few — 16% — who feel they know "a lot" see some potential upsides of having one locally, but more of them still oppose one than support one in their local area, anyway. (Those who report knowing "nothing" about data centers are mostly unsure about having one in their area.) The country is generally divided on whether more data centers are necessary for the U.S. to remain competitive in the fields of technology and AI. Those who would favor a new data center in their area overwhelmingly think they are necessary for the U.S. to compete with other countries. More Republicans than Democrats think data centers are needed for competitiveness, but many of them, like Democrats, aren't sold on having one in the area where they live. …