Most Americans now say they would rather live next to a nuclear power plant than an AI data center, underscoring a sharp public backlash against the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence.

Gallup’s March 2026 polling first captured the scale of unease: 71 percent of Americans opposed having a data center built where they live, compared with 53 percent who would oppose a nearby nuclear plant.¹ The follow-up April web survey found opposition cut across party lines, with Democrats showing the strongest resistance; 56 percent of Democrats expressed strong opposition versus 39 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of independents.¹

As the numbers circulated, coverage emphasized that “data centers have a bigger NIMBY problem than nuclear reactors.”¹ A separate report stressed that over 70 percent of Americans oppose AI data centers in their area and that only 7 percent are “strongly” in favor.² Gallup data also showed that, historically, opposition to nuclear plant construction peaked at 63 percent, still below current hostility to data centers.²

Public concerns focus on resources and costs. Half of opponents cited the impact on water and electricity as their main worry, with 18 percent specifically pointing to excessive use.¹ Another 20 percent feared higher bills and other increased costs, while nearly a quarter raised quality-of-life issues such as local changes in property values.¹ A similar Pew survey reported that 43 percent of Americans see data centers as a “major reason” for rising power bills.²

Industry-aligned voices and AI researchers have pushed back. One viral post claimed that the “data centers are using our water!” narrative rests on a book that “totally fucks up the math” on water usage, an error the author later acknowledged, according to a tweet amplified by AI scientist Yann LeCun.Yann LeCun (ylecun)³ In another repost, LeCun shared the view that data centers have become “this generations nuclear power” even though “there is a 0% chance that a data center can lead to any sort of disaster scenario,” citing a Utah project described as remote and using repurposed water.Yann LeCun (ylecun)⁴

The political response is escalating. One widely shared post noted that Sanders and AOC introduced a bill to pause all AI data center construction, with “300+ local bills filed” and “half of planned 2026 data centers facing delays or cancellation,” arguing that projects bringing “billions to local economies” are being blocked by politicians who claim to support American jobs.Elon Musk (elonmusk)⁵ Tech investor commentary framed this as a threat to economic growth, while some state leaders, like Maine’s governor, have cited job creation in decisions such as vetoing a proposed 18‑month moratorium on new data centers.²

For now, the tension between local environmental and cost concerns and broader economic and technological ambitions is hardening into a nationwide NIMBY battle over the physical footprint of AI.