Click here for full poll results
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, The Tech Oversight Project and Public Policy Polling released the following survey showing voters disapprove of fast-tracking the construction of more Big Tech AI data centers. The Biden Administration is soon expected to release an executive order designed to encourage data center construction, potentially waiving environmental review or even clearing the way for expansion on federal lands and national parks.
This action has already faced opposition from a coalition of watchdog and environmental groups for its potential to further raise home energy prices, large consumption of land and water, and significant amounts of water and noise pollution. These groups called for responsible fast-tracking that does not sacrifice local resources, boost fossil fuel production, or pass the costs down to everyday consumers.
In addition to opposing AI data center fast-tracking, survey respondents also supported making Big Tech companies fund part or all of the costs associated with the extra burden on energy and local resources their AI-data centers require. Data centers built to support Big Tech’s ever-growing artificial intelligence products have already forced local governments to raise energy costs on regular customers. Respondents embraced policies such as an energy tax, industry-funded energy subsidies, and legislation passed by Congress to ensure Big Tech foots the bill.
“Americans are already being forced to pay for the increased energy demand Big Tech companies have foisted upon us with their artificial intelligence-driven technology no one is asking for. In addition to filling our search results pages and social media feeds with AI-generated slop, Big Tech data centers are increasing our home energy costs, eating up rural land, and polluting local waterways, and it’s clear from this poll that Americans do not want one of the Biden Administration’s final actions to be a handout to Big Tech,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project. “We are calling on the Biden Administration to heed the majority of Americans who want Big Tech companies to pay their fair share and don’t want to fast-track data centers at the expense of our public health, public lands, or pocketbook.”
The survey comes on the heels of research showing that new data centers could cost the U.S. economy $20 billion per year in public health costs.
The national survey was conducted from January 6th to January 7th and surveyed 708 registered voters. For the full poll results, click here.
Topline Results:
- 72% of respondents were less likely to support a potential executive order once learning that Big Tech’s data centers would be constructed on federal lands and national parks and waive environmental review processes.
- 58% of voters oppose clearing the way for Big Tech companies to construct massive data centers that consume large amounts of water and land, while producing pollution.
- 75% support Congress passing federal legislation requiring Big Tech companies to pay for their increased energy demand related to data centers.
- 54% of respondents support charging Big Tech companies a local energy usage tax for the extra energy their facilities use to power their data centers.
- 55% of those surveyed support Big Tech companies kicking in money to subsidize the cost of reopening decommissioned power plants to meet Big Tech’s energy demand.