According to Bloomberg report on September 21, research firm Data Center Watch stated that between April and June this year, approximately 45 data center projects in the United States were halted or postponed due to opposition from local residents. The total investment involved amounts to $68 billion.
Currently, communities across the United States are advocating for measures to suspend the construction of new data centers, and often take action before developers even have time to submit their approval applications.
According to a report provided by Data Center Watch to Bloomberg, parliaments in approximately 30 states have proposed or passed regulations related to the location of data centers, electricity, and water usage.
This research reflects the growing concerns of the American public regarding the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. This expansion is evident in the continuous construction of new computing clusters, as well as in the increasing integration of artificial intelligence into daily life. Currently, there are 843 groups in 49 states of the United States that oppose the construction of data centers, with only Hawaii not having such groups.
Critics believe that large-scale construction of data centers not only increases the environmental burden but also consumes a large amount of resources such as electricity and water. At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence may impact employment, further increasing public concerns.
Previously, U.S. President Trump harshly criticized concerns regarding the development of data centers and AI technology, claiming that a "pathological conspiracy" against AI and data centers was underway.
