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

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CNBC TV18•03-01-2026, 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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