Americans would rather have a nuclear power plant built in their community than a data center

Americans appear more comfortable with the prospect of a nuclear power plant opening in their community than an artificial intelligence data center, according to a new Gallup poll.

The survey found that 71% of Americans oppose building a data center in their local area, compared with 53% who oppose building a nuclear energy plant. While 7% strongly support an AI data center, the concerns center on environmental impacts and electricity bill costs.

AI data centers face growing public opposition

Only 27% of Americans said they support building an AI data center in their community, according to Gallup’s May 2026 polling. These data centers contain computing devices that can help in building nodes for AI tech transfer in the vicinity. Schools, hospitals, businesses, universities and other such institutions fall under the list of organizations that might be able to benefit from such centers.

The findings come as technology companies race to construct big facilities needed to power increasingly sophisticated AI systems. But the rapid expansion has given rise to concerns over electricity consumption, water use, noise and the effect large industrial facilities could have on surrounding communities.

Nuclear plants prove less unpopular

Gallup found that opposition to nuclear plants was significantly lower.

53% said they opposed building a nuclear power plant in their area, meaning Americans were 18 percentage points more likely to reject a local data center than a nuclear facility. However, the concerns around data centers come from rising electricity bills and the environmental impacts of such facilities. Meanwhile, groups that support such centers understand the economic advantages that come with the integration of artificial intelligence.

The question about data centers was designed to parallel the wording it has used when asking Americans about nuclear power plants.

Data center backlash spreads across the US

The polling comes as opposition to data centers has become increasingly visible across the United States. The study also states that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to oppose data centers in the vicinity. Meanwhile, women have been found to be more concerned than men. The study also states that there is nothing meaningful to point out that the results of the poll depend on age, race, education, and income-based differences.

Communities have raised concerns about the electricity required by AI facilities, as well as about water consumption and noise. The backlash is also becoming a political issue, with proposed projects facing resistance from residents and local officials due to the inconvenience they cause.

Activist Christopher Rufo highlights the comparison

An American conservative activist and writer, Christopher Rufo, drew attention to the Gallup findings in an X post, writing that: “Americans would rather have a nuclear power plant built in their community than a data center, this may be the worst corporate public-relations fumble of all time.”

The comparison is particularly notable because nuclear power has historically faced substantial public opposition in the United States.

The latest figures suggest that AI data centers may now be facing an even stronger NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) reaction, as Americans weigh the costs and benefits of the infrastructure being built to support the AI boom.