Most Americans Know About Data Centers — and Many Don't Like Them
Pew survey finds 75% of US adults have heard of data centers, with nearly 4 in 10 flagging environmental and energy concerns.
Data centers are officially on America's radar. A new Pew Research Center survey reveals three-quarters of US adults have heard at least something about the massive computing facilities spreading across the country.
The vibe isn't exactly warm and fuzzy, though. Roughly 39% of respondents say data centers are bad for the environment, while 38% believe they're driving up home energy costs.
The findings land as data center construction booms nationwide, fueled by surging demand from cloud computing and AI workloads. These sprawling facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and water for cooling, putting them squarely in the crosshairs of communities worried about strained power grids and rising utility bills.
The takeaway: Americans are paying attention to what's getting built in their backyards — and a significant chunk isn't thrilled about it.