Gigantic data centers aren’t welcome as neighbors by a majority of voters, but they don’t want Congress getting involved in the issue, either.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would support a proposal to build a data center in their community, including 15% who would Strongly Support such a project. However, 52% would oppose a data center being built in their community, including 35% who would Strongly Oppose it.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of voters believe Congress should pass legislation to regulate data center construction at a national level, but 51% think the issue of data centers should be left to state and local governments. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
While 48% of Republicans would at least somewhat support a data center being built in their community, that opinion is shared by just 36% of Democrats and 32% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Fifty-five percent (55%) of Democrats would oppose having a data center in their community, as would 44% of Republicans and 59% of unaffiliated voters.
Local control is a wedge issue: 50% of self-identified liberal voters believe data center construction should be regulated at a national level, majorities of both conservatives (56%) and moderate voters (55%) say the issue of data centers should be left to state and local governments.
Breaking down the electorate by income categories, voters earning between $30,000 and $50,000 a year are most likely to support a proposal to build a data center in their community. Those with annual incomes between $100,000 and $200,000 are most likely to think the issue of data centers should be left to state and local governments.
