Most Americans oppose building new data centers in their communities, and few agree with Donald Trump that data centers are good for their area because they create jobs and tax revenue, the latest Economist / YouGov Poll finds.
Only 24% of Americans say the construction of new data centers is very or somewhat good for the country, while 47% say it's bad. Most Democrats say new data centers are bad (13% say they're good and 60% say they're bad), as do many Independents (20% vs. 48%). Republicans are more positive about data centers but are still closely divided (38% vs. 33%).
Republicans who identify as MAGA supporters are more likely to say building data centers is good than to say it's bad (45% vs. 29%). Non-MAGA Republicans are less positive (31% vs. 35%).
Among the majority (57%) of Americans who say the economy is getting worse, most say data centers are bad (14% say they're good and 59% say they're bad). Those who say the economy is getting better are much more supportive of data centers (55% vs. 27%), but only 14% of Americans say the economy is improving. Among the 21% who say the economy is about the same rather than getting better or worse, 29% say data centers are good and 39% say they're bad.
62% of Americans think that building a new data center in their community would increase what they pay for electricity, while 13% think it would have no effect and only 3% think it would decrease electric rates.
Even many Americans who don't think data centers are bad for the country oppose the idea of building a data center in their community. While 47% of Americans say data centers are very or somewhat bad for the U.S., 61% would strongly or somewhat oppose building a local data center.
Almost all (96%) of those who say data centers are bad for the U.S. also oppose building one locally; only 1% would support a local data center. But those who say data centers are good for the country aren't so unanimous: 17% of these pro-data center Americans oppose building one in their community, while 73% support one. Among those who say data centers are neither good nor bad, 51% oppose building a data center in their community and 22% support one.
The Economist / YouGov Poll also asked Americans whether they agree or disagree with a recent statement by Donald Trump: "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a… data center, I would absolutely want it because the jobs are enormous, and the money paid, the taxes paid are just enormous." Respondents were shown the quote without being told who said it. 21% of Americans completely or somewhat agree and 51% disagree.
Most Democrats disagree with the statement (10% agree and 68% disagree), as do many Independents (17% vs. 50%). Republicans are closely divided (34% vs. 35%). MAGA Republicans are more likely to agree than disagree with the statement (42% vs. 30%), while non-MAGA Republicans are more likely to disagree (24% vs. 43%).
Majorities of Americans who say data centers are good for the U.S. agree with Trump's statement, while majorities who say data centers are bad disagree. Most Americans who say data centers are neither good nor bad say they neither agree nor disagree with the statement (57%), but more disagree (30%) than agree (12%).
Image: Getty (Oselote)
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