Nuclear Power Plants Far More Popular Than AI Data Centers For Local Areas

Nuclear Power Plants Far More Popular Than AI Data Centers For Local Areas

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/05/13/people-would-rather-have-nuclear-power-plants-in-their-area-than-ai-data-centers/

Publish Date: 2026-05-13 14:05:00

Source Domain: www.forbes.com

Here is a summary of the article using an unordered list with key points:

• Strong Opposition to AI Data Centers: According to a Gallup poll, 71% of Americans are against building AI data centers in their local area, with 53% opposing the construction of a nuclear power plant nearby—a place which many already live or work around.

• Environmental and Quality-of-Life Concerns: The primary fear is the environmental impact due to the high energy and water consumption of AI data centers, with 70% of respondents worrying about local environmental degradation. Other concerns include impacts on the quality of life, local costs, and general worries about AI itself.

• Demographic Insights: Women and Democrats showed a higher inclination toward strong opposition compared to Republicans. Most major demographic groups and political affiliations opposed the idea of having a data center near them.

• Economic vs. Environmental Arguments: Only 27% of surveyed individuals were somewhat or strongly in favor of AI data centers. Those in favor primarily cited potential economic benefits such as job creation and increased tax revenue.

• Background on AI Data Centers: AI data centers are giant facilities designed for the intense computations required for training artificial intelligence models. They are expanding rapidly in states like Texas, Virginia, and Georgia, with major tech companies participating.

• Scale of Data Centers’ Resource Consumption: Large data centers can use as much as 5 million gallons of water daily, equal to the water use of a town with a population between 10,000 to 50,000 people.

• Surprising Fact: The utility company in Lake Tahoe announced it will stop providing electricity to residents in 2027 to supply data centers in northern Nevada, forcing locals to find alternative electric providers.

• For Further Reading: The article references Forbes articles about fortifying data centers and an orbital data center project involving Google and SpaceX.