71% of Americans Oppose AI Data Centers Near Homes, Prefer Nuclear Plants in 2026

71% of Americans Oppose AI Data Centers Near Homes, Prefer Nuclear Plants in 2026

A recent Gallup survey has uncovered a striking paradox in public perception: a majority of Americans would rather live near a nuclear power plant than an artificial intelligence data center. According to the poll, 71% of U.S. adults oppose the construction of AI data centers in their neighborhoods, compared to just 53% who oppose a nuclear power plant nearby. The findings, reported by The Decoder, highlight growing unease about the environmental and economic footprint of the AI boom.

The primary drivers of opposition are the massive water and electricity demands of AI data centers, as well as fears of rising utility costs for local residents. In contrast, nuclear plants—long stigmatized—are now seen by many as a cleaner, more predictable energy source. This shift in public opinion comes as tech giants race to build new facilities to support generative AI and cloud computing.

Why AI Data Centers Face More Opposition Than Nuclear Plants

The Gallup data underscores a fundamental shift in risk perception. While nuclear power has historically faced NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) resistance, the newer technology of AI data centers is now viewed with greater suspicion. According to VDI Nachrichten, Germany's water consumption dropped by 17% after the country shut down its nuclear reactors, a fact that challenges the narrative that nuclear power is inherently water-intensive. In the U.S., however, AI data centers are known to consume enormous amounts of water for cooling—often drawing from local municipal supplies—and can strain the electrical grid.

“The public is increasingly aware that an AI data center next door means higher water bills, more noise, and potential brownouts,” said a spokesperson for the environmental advocacy group WaterWatch. “Meanwhile, modern nuclear plants are designed with closed-loop cooling systems that use far less water than older generations.”

Water Consumption: A Key Factor in the Debate

Data from Academia Superior and Focus Online confirms that German authorities recorded a surprising drop in water usage after the country's nuclear phase-out. The reduction was largely due to the closure of older, once-through cooling nuclear plants that pulled billions of gallons from rivers and lakes. In the U.S., many nuclear facilities have already been retrofitted with recirculating cooling towers, which recycle water and minimize consumption. By contrast, many AI data centers still rely on evaporative cooling, which can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day for a single large facility.

This disparity is fueling local opposition. In Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, residents have protested new projects over water scarcity. “We are being asked to sacrifice our water supply so that a tech company can train its latest chatbot,” said one community organizer in Loudoun County. “That’s a harder sell than a nuclear plant that provides reliable, zero-carbon power.”

Energy and Cost Concerns Drive Public Sentiment

Beyond water, energy consumption is a flashpoint. AI data centers can draw as much electricity as a small city, often requiring new transmission lines and substations. This infrastructure cost is frequently passed on to ratepayers, sparking backlash. The Gallup survey found that 68% of respondents cited “higher local utility costs” as a major concern regarding AI data centers. For nuclear plants, that figure was only 41%.

Nuclear power, while controversial for its waste and safety risks, is increasingly seen as a stable energy source that can support the grid without the same level of localized cost spikes. “The irony is not lost on us,” said Dr. Emily Tran, an energy policy analyst at the University of Texas. “Americans are more comfortable with a technology that has a proven safety record and a known waste problem than with a shiny new industry that seems to consume everything in its path.”

Implications for Tech Companies and Policymakers

The poll results present a significant public relations challenge for companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are building hundreds of data centers across the country. Industry groups have argued that data centers can be designed with water-efficient cooling and can be powered by renewable energy. However, the Gallup data suggests that trust has not yet caught up with technology.

“The tech sector needs to do a better job of explaining the benefits and addressing the real concerns of local communities,” said a representative from the Information Technology Industry Council. “Otherwise, they will face the same kind of opposition that the nuclear industry has dealt with for decades.”

As the U.S. continues to expand its digital infrastructure, the debate over where to place these facilities—and at what cost—will only intensify. For now, the data is clear: Americans prefer the devil they know.

Image: Comparison of public opposition to AI data centers vs nuclear plants near homes in 2026 (Source: Gallup)