Mike Petak of Spring City gestures while speaking to East Vincent Township supervisors in opposition to a data center proposal at the former Pennhurst state hospital grounds, Dec. 17, 2025, in Spring City, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
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CNBC TV1803-01-2026, 14:05

Big Tech's Data Centers Face Fierce Community Backlash Across US

  • Big Tech's rapidly expanding data center plans for AI and cloud computing are meeting strong community opposition across the US.
  • Residents are concerned about energy/water use, loss of open space, noise, property values, and potential water depletion.
  • Numerous data center proposals, including 20 projects valued at $98 billion, have been blocked or delayed due to local pushback.
  • Developers and Big Tech firms like Microsoft acknowledge the growing challenge, with some developers considering selling sites.
  • Industry groups are urging developers to improve community engagement and highlight economic benefits to counter opposition.

Why It Matters: Widespread community opposition is significantly hindering Big Tech's data center expansion, forcing industry re-evaluation.

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