Data center projects are being delayed nationwide as many opposition groups have successfully blocked their progress. According to Data Center Watch, a boutique research firm tracking data center development, at least 75 data center projects worth around $130 billion have been blocked or delayed across the nation in the first quarter of 2026 alone. By comparison, this is the same amount that was blocked throughout 2025.
This metric reflects the growing opposition to data centers across the United States. In late 2025, an Ipsos survey showed that nearly half of Americans didn’t want a new data center project near their neighborhood. However, this number jumped to 70% a few months later, indicating increasing resistance to data centers. Many of the concerns raised by residents include massive electricity price hikes, egregious water consumption, and potential noise pollution, among others. However, there have also been reports that Chinese users have been amplifying these issues while posing as Americans.
