Public opposition to the expansion of data centers is increasing, leading local and state governments to consider moratoriums and new regulations. President Donald Trump supports the rapid development of data centers to promote artificial intelligence technology, while public concerns include rising electricity costs, water usage, and noise. A Gallup poll from early March indicated that 70% of respondents oppose the construction of data centers for AI in their areas, with 48% expressing strong opposition.
As of February, over 300 bills related to data centers had been filed across 30 states, a significant increase from fewer than 200 bills in 2025. The National Conference of State Legislatures reported that 14 states have introduced legislation to ban data center development as of June 2. New York recently passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which would impose a one-year moratorium on permits for large data centers, awaiting the signature of Governor Kathy Hochul.
In contrast, a proposed ban in Maine was vetoed by Governor Janet Mills due to the absence of an exemption for an ongoing project. States are also focusing on regulating energy use and economic impacts of data centers. California enacted a bill directing the Public Utilities Commission to assess the impact of data centers on the power grid and utility ratepayers, while Ohio and Utah have introduced measures to address energy costs and tax incentives for large data centers.
Concerns extend to water consumption, with a 100 megawatt data center potentially using around 2 million liters (approximately 530,000 gallons) of water daily. Legislators in Illinois and California have introduced bills requiring data centers to disclose water usage and adhere to stricter permitting processes.