Local Opposition to AI Data Centers Surges
Federal orders speed permitting, but a 33-point jump in local opposition could slow buildout within a year.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Would you support a new AI data center being built near where you live?
President Donald Trump publicly backed expanding AI data centers and what he called 'Super Intelligence' infrastructure, posting his statement on Truth Social. The policy push is at the stage of executive orders already signed, not a new shipped capability: Trump signed orders to fast-track permitting for AI data centers and to block states from enforcing their own AI rules.
Why it matters
The fight over where AI compute gets built is moving from engineering planning into electoral politics, with some Republicans in red states calling for moratoriums on new facilities. Local opposition is hardening quickly, which could shape how fast the infrastructure buildout proceeds.
A Heatmap Pro poll by Embold Research found 75% of Americans would oppose a data center built near them, a 33-point rise in opposition over one year. The poll's sample size and margin of error were not stated in the available data.
The players
Donald Trump
President of the United States, who signed executive orders fast-tracking AI data center permitting and blocking state AI rules.
Greg Brockman
OpenAI president who, with his wife Anna, gave $25 million to Trump's super PAC MAGA Inc.
Heatmap Pro
Data and polling outlet that published an August survey finding 75% of Americans opposed a data center near their home.
Embold Research
Research firm that conducted the Heatmap Pro poll on public attitudes toward nearby data centers.
The details
Trump used Truth Social to describe 'Super Intelligence' as a catchall term for AI and argued that states wanting to become rich from AI infrastructure would benefit from it. His executive orders target two levers: speeding federal permitting for AI data centers and blocking state-level AI rules that could slow buildout. The result is a federal push that runs directly against the local zoning and siting decisions where data centers are actually built.
Timeline
Last year: Trump signed executive orders on AI data center permitting and state AI rules.
August: the Heatmap Pro poll showing 75% opposition to nearby data centers was published.
November 6, 2026: Trump posted his Truth Social statement backing Super Intelligence infrastructure.
The Tech Race
Trump's executive orders on AI data center permitting and state AI rules set the federal lever for the buildout. The Heatmap poll's 33-point jump in local opposition shows that the permitting fight is now moving down to individual communities.
Residents near proposed sites could see new data centers approved faster under federal permitting shortcuts, while some red-state legislators push for pauses. Timelines for either outcome have not been announced.
The takeaway
Watch whether any red state actually adopts a moratorium on new AI data centers, which would test how far the federal fast-track orders can override local opposition. Track follow-up polling from Heatmap Pro to see whether the 75% opposition figure holds.
Further reading
For the broader context on siting and power demands, see Data Centers coverage across the United States.
Live Poll
Would you support a new AI data center being built near where you live?
