{"id":293361,"date":"2026-03-12T10:54:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=293361"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:54:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:54:28","slug":"how-americans-view-data-centers-impact-in-key-areas-from-the-environment-to-jobs","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/03\/12\/how-americans-view-data-centers-impact-in-key-areas-from-the-environment-to-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"How Americans view data centers\u2019 impact in key areas, from the environment to jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"An<\/a>
An Amazon Web Services data center located next to single-family homes in Stone Ridge, Virginia. (Nathan Howard\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A broad majority of Americans have heard about data centers \u2013 the often-sprawling computing facilities<\/a> that are popping up nationwide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the public has mixed opinions about data centers\u2019 impact in various areas, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Attitudes are more negative than positive when it comes to these facilities\u2019 impact on the environment, home energy costs and people\u2019s quality of life nearby. In turn, larger shares of Americans view their economic effects as mostly positive than negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans\u2019 awareness of data centers and their opinions about these facilities\u2019 impact on the environment, home energy costs, people\u2019s quality of life nearby, local jobs and local tax revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research builds on our recent work about artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a> and our work on AI<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 8,512 U.S. adults from Jan. 20 to 26, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions we used for this analysis<\/a>, the detailed responses<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

This is the first time the Center has explored U.S. public opinion about data centers. The survey was conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026, among 8,512 adults. Among the key findings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three-quarters of Americans have heard about data centers<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of U.S. adults who say they have heard or read _<\/em>_<\/em> about data centers<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: Those who did not answer are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t