Survey Shows 40% Support Data Centers in Communities, Still Lower Than Amazon Warehouses

Quick Facts

• Harvard/MIT poll found 40% support for data centers versus higher support for e-commerce warehouses
• Community opposition has blocked $18 billion and delayed $46 billion in U.S. data center projects since mid-2024
• Amazon now spends more on data centers than warehouses as AI demand drives infrastructure needs

A new Harvard/MIT poll reveals communities prefer Amazon warehouses over data centers in their neighborhoods, despite data centers being critical for digital infrastructure.

The survey of 1,000 people conducted in November found 40% supported building a data center in their area, with 32% opposed. Support for data centers trailed behind auto factories and e-commerce warehouses but exceeded petrochemical facilities, which drew 23% backing and 52% opposition.

Two-thirds of respondents worried that new data centers would increase electricity prices in their region. The research was overseen by Harvard researcher Stephen Ansolabehere, the Frank G. Thompson Professor of Government.

A separate Quinnipiac University poll of Pennsylvania voters showed stronger opposition. The survey of more than 830 registered voters from February 19-23 found nearly 70% opposed building data centers in their communities, with only 20% in favor.

Community resistance has created significant business impacts. Opposition groups have blocked $18 billion and delayed $46 billion in U.S. data center projects since mid-2024. Project cancellations accelerated from 2 in 2023 to 25 in 2025, with 4 projects already canceled in 2026.

At least 188 organized opposition groups span 40 states. Lawmakers in 14 states have enacted or proposed moratoriums on data center development.

Water use dominates community concerns, mentioned in more than 40% of contested projects. Energy consumption and electricity rate increases rank second, followed by noise pollution.

The San Marcos, Texas city council rejected a proposed $1.5 billion hyperscale data center campus in early 2026. The project would have demanded 2.5 times the city’s peak electrical load. More than 100 residents spoke against the proposal, while only a handful voiced support.

Amazon’s spending priorities reflect the infrastructure shift. The company now invests more in data centers than e-commerce warehouses, driven by AI computing demands. Amazon expects capital expenditures to reach $125 billion for the full year, up from a previous estimate of $100 million.

AWS owns about 24 million square feet of buildings and leases roughly the same amount, according to the company’s annual report.

Communities view warehouses more favorably because they create visible jobs and economic activity. Residents see packages arriving from warehouses but do not directly experience the digital services that data centers enable.

Harvard’s Ansolabehere found that quality of life concerns were twice as important as electricity prices in determining public support. “Quality of life is one of those things that doesn’t often get voiced very clearly in the public discourse,” he said.

The opposition is forcing industry changes. Some developers are selling properties after securing power sources but before seeking zoning approval. “You might as well take chips off the table,” said Maxx Kossof, vice president of investment at The Missner Group.

Rural Western communities and states like Arizona, Texas, and Nevada are actively courting data centers as East Coast areas resist development. Illinois lawmakers moved to pause certain data center tax incentives in early 2026 amid energy use debates.

Read more: People would rather have an Amazon warehouse in their backyard than a data center