Pew finds 60% of Americans uncomfortable with local data centers

More than 3,000 data centers were operating in the US as of February 2026, with at least 1,500 more in development, according to an analysis by Pew Research Center. Voters in at least 38 US jurisdictions supported limits or bans on data centers during the 2026 midterm elections.

Existing facilities remain concentrated in cities, with 87% in urban areas and 89% within five miles of another data center. However, two thirds of planned facilities are in rural areas, and 39% are in counties without an existing data center. About 42% of US adults lived within five miles of an operating or planned facility.

In an August survey, 60% of adults said they would be uncomfortable with a new data center in their area. The share describing data centers as mostly bad for the environment rose from 39% in January to 54% in August. Negative views also increased for home energy costs and the quality of life of nearby residents.

US data centers consumed 183 terawatt hours of electricity in 2024, up from 108 terawatt hours in 2020. Consumption is projected to reach 426 terawatt hours in 2030. Data centers accounted for more than 4% of total US electricity use in 2024.