Concerns among Americans regarding the environmental effects of artificial intelligence (AI) are rising, according to a recent survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. The poll, conducted in July 2026, found that 53% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI’s environmental impact, up from 41% a year earlier.

This growing apprehension comes amid a rapid expansion of data centers across the country—facilities that provide the computing power essential to AI and cloud services but consume substantial amounts of electricity and water. States such as Virginia and Texas currently host the largest number of data centers, while others, including California, Ohio, and New York, are also significant hubs. Although most existing data centers are located in urban areas, new construction is increasingly focused on rural regions.

The survey revealed a partisan divide in environmental concerns about AI. Approximately two-thirds of Democrats express high levels of worry about AI’s environmental consequences, a notable increase from previous years. In contrast, concern among independents stands at about 50%, while roughly 40% of Republicans share this level of apprehension. Despite these differences, there is widespread support across party lines for imposing limits on the construction of new data centers; about 60% of respondents favor such restrictions.

Environmental experts warn that data centers place a strain on local resources. While their national water consumption is relatively modest, the impact can be significant in smaller municipalities where large data centers draw heavily for cooling purposes. According to Fengqi You, an energy systems engineer at Cornell University, the localized water use can be "potentially locally decisive." Additionally, the high electricity demand of data centers raises questions about energy sourcing. Projections indicate that data centers might account for nearly 12% of the nation’s electricity consumption by 2030, prompting calls for stricter requirements on the use of renewable energy. Around two-thirds of Americans support mandating clean energy sources, such as wind or solar, for data centers. Support is strongest among Democrats, with 80% in favor, compared to 56% of Republicans.

Some respondents noted that the direct impact of data centers varies by location. Mary Fisher, a Republican retiree in Jacksonville, Florida, said she had not encountered any local issues related to data center construction, reflecting a perception among some Americans that these concerns may not affect their communities.

Opinions on the economic and technological benefits of data centers also differ. About one-quarter of respondents believe data centers contribute significantly to technological progress, while fewer see substantial benefits for job creation. Republicans tend to view the benefits more favorably than Democrats, with some emphasizing temporary job opportunities generated by ongoing construction projects. Still, skepticism remains, with a segment of the population questioning data centers’ overall impact on infrastructure and employment.

The survey involved 3,424 adults from a combination of representative probability-based sampling and opt-in online panels, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points. Researchers noted that the rapid development of AI and related infrastructure represents a significant shift with complex implications, underscoring the challenges policymakers face in balancing technological advancement with environmental sustainability.