Voters don’t want big data centers built near their communities, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll.
By Catholics for Catholics
Not in their backyards.
Most likely U.S. voters don’t want big data centers built in their communities, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll, even as President Donald Trump promotes the cause to accelerate artificial intelligence development and expand the infrastructure needed to keep the United States ahead of China in the global AI race.
AI has been a crucial main concern of Trump’s second administration, signing executive orders geared toward speeding permits for data centers and other AI infrastructure while supporting U.S. leadership in the fast-growing technology, according to a story by Newsmax.
The White House has contended the effort is critical to national security, economic growth, and maintaining the United States’ aggressive edge.
The Rasmussen poll found that 52% of likely voters would oppose a proposal to build a data center in their community, including 35% who said they would strongly resist it. Just 39% said they would support such a project, with only 15% saying they would strongly support it.
Also, the poll found voters are often resistant to Washington taking control of the issue.
Republicans were the most approachable to hosting a data center, with 48% saying they would support one in their community. Support dropped to 36% among Democrats and 32% among independent voters.
Still, resistance overshadowed support across the political spectrum. Fifty-five percent of Democrats opposed a local data center, along with 59% of independents and 44% of Republicans.
The Rasmussen survey also found ideological differences regarding federal involvement. Half of self-identified liberals favored congressional regulation of data center construction, while majorities of conservatives (56%) and moderates (55%) said the issue should remain with state and local governments.
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