Opposition groups have blocked or delayed at least 75 US data center projects worth $130 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The number of anti-data center groups has doubled to 833 across 49 states.
A new report shows significant momentum building against data center expansion across the United States, with opponents successfully halting or postponing projects valued at approximately $130 billion during the first three months of 2026.
The data reveals that organized opposition to data center development has grown substantially. The number of groups actively opposing such projects has doubled to 833 groups spanning 49 states, indicating that resistance to data center construction is no longer concentrated in isolated regions but has become a nationwide phenomenon.
The 75 blocked or delayed projects represent a major challenge to the data center industry, which has seen explosive demand growth driven by artificial intelligence development and cloud computing expansion. Data centers require massive amounts of land, water, and electricity—factors that have increasingly drawn scrutiny from local communities, environmental groups, and state officials.
Opposition typically centers on several concerns: water consumption in drought-prone regions, energy demand straining power grids, environmental impact, property tax dynamics, and local quality of life issues. Some communities fear data centers will consume limited resources while providing few local jobs, as facilities operate with minimal staff.
The surge in organized opposition marks a turning point for the data center sector. Tech companies and infrastructure developers have long assumed data center projects would proceed once permits were secured, but local activism has proven capable of derailing even well-capitalized ventures.
The report underscores tension between national demands for AI and cloud computing infrastructure and local resistance to the physical footprint such technology requires. As data center demand continues to accelerate, companies will face increasing difficulty finding locations where projects can advance without significant delays or community opposition.
Government responses have varied. Some states have attempted to streamline permitting processes to attract data center investment, while others have implemented stricter environmental reviews or allowed communities greater say in project approval.
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