US Data Center Protests Go National as Backlash Grows

Grassroots protests against data centre buildout are escalating into a coordinated national movement with 125+ planned protests across the US, drawing cross-partisan opposition to AI infrastructure expansion over water depletion, power costs, and lack of local accountability. Polling shows only 14% of Americans support data centres in their communities, and the issue is emerging as a defining electoral concern for 2026 and 2028. If you're building data centres for AI companies, your permitting timeline just got longer and your cost of local consent just went up. Fourteen per cent public support and cross-partisan political opposition means every site now needs a defensive strategy before the shovel touches ground.