Over 60% of Americans oppose new data center construction, and Pennsylvania shows why

Everyone can find a reason to dislike data center construction

TechCrunch uses two years of Pennsylvania fights to show why AI data centers face opposition from nearly every angle. Three polls put public opposition above 60%, with the sharpest resistance against local projects. Data Center Watch tracked $68 billion in projects disrupted by local pushback in Q2 2026. The piece lays out competing interests—grid capacity fears, union job demands, noise complaints, land-use concerns—without forcing a single narrative.