Where Data Centers Are Facing the Most Pushback
Key Takeaways:
- Virginia leads the U.S. with 33 data center projects facing some form of opposition, followed by Pennsylvania (28), Georgia (27), and Ohio (27).
- Virginia has the most contested projects (21), Indiana leads in organized opposition (12), and Pennsylvania leads in litigation (10).
- Public skepticism is rising: 54% of Americans now view data centers as mostly bad for the environment, up from 39% in January 2026.
America’s AI boom is driving rapid data center construction, but communities are increasingly questioning the costs of hosting these massive facilities. Concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, and rising utility bills are fueling opposition across the country.
Data from the SueDataCenters.org U.S. Data Center Registry, built on Compute Atlas records, reveals where proposed and existing projects face the most documented opposition.
Where Are Data Centers Facing the Most Opposition?
The following table ranks states by the number of flagged projects, using data from SueDataCenters.org as of October 20, 2026.
For this analysis, “contested data centers” refers to all projects flagged as contested, opposed, or involved in litigation in the SueDataCenters.org registry. Virginia leads with 33 such projects: 21 classified as contested, seven as opposed, and five facing litigation.
| Rank | State | Contested Data Centers | Share of U.S. Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 33 | 7.59% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 28 | 6.44% |
| 3 | Georgia | 27 | 6.21% |
| 4 | Ohio | 27 | 6.21% |
| 5 | Indiana | 22 | 5.06% |
| 6 | Michigan | 19 | 4.37% |
| 7 | California | 17 | 3.91% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 16 | 3.68% |
| 9 | Texas | 15 | 3.45% |
| 10 | Florida | 14 | 3.22% |
| 11 | New York | 13 | 2.99% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 13 | 2.99% |
| 13 | Iowa | 12 | 2.76% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12 | 2.76% |
| 15 | Missouri | 11 | 2.53% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 10 | 2.30% |
| 17 | Arizona | 9 | 2.07% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9 | 2.07% |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 9 | 2.07% |
| 20 | Nevada | 8 | 1.84% |
| 21 | South Carolina | 8 | 1.84% |
| 22 | Maryland | 7 | 1.61% |
| 23 | Minnesota | 7 | 1.61% |
| 24 | Tennessee | 7 | 1.61% |
| 25 | Colorado | 6 | 1.38% |
| 26 | Connecticut | 6 | 1.38% |
| 27 | New Mexico | 6 | 1.38% |
| 28 | Alabama | 5 | 1.15% |
| 29 | Delaware | 5 | 1.15% |
| 30 | Kansas | 5 | 1.15% |
| 31 | Mississippi | 4 | 0.92% |
| 32 | Oregon | 4 | 0.92% |
| 33 | Utah | 4 | 0.92% |
| 34 | West Virginia | 4 | 0.92% |
| 35 | Alaska | 3 | 0.69% |
| 36 | Arkansas | 3 | 0.69% |
| 37 | Idaho | 3 | 0.69% |
| 38 | Louisiana | 3 | 0.69% |
| 39 | Washington | 3 | 0.69% |
| 40 | Wyoming | 3 | 0.69% |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 2 | 0.46% |
| 42 | Maine | 2 | 0.46% |
| 43 | North Dakota | 2 | 0.46% |
| 44 | Nebraska | 2 | 0.46% |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 2 | 0.46% |
| 46 | South Dakota | 2 | 0.46% |
| 47 | Montana | 1 | 0.23% |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 1 | 0.23% |
| 49 | Vermont | 1 | 0.23% |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 0 | 0.00% |
| 51 | Guam | 0 | 0.00% |
| 52 | Hawaii | 0 | 0.00% |
| 53 | Northern Mariana Islands | 0 | 0.00% |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 0.00% |
| 55 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 0 | 0.00% |
| -- | U.S. Total | 435 | 100.0% |
Virginia accounts for 7.6% of all flagged data center projects nationwide, the largest share of any state. Pennsylvania follows at 6.4%, with Georgia and Ohio each accounting for 6.2%.
However, the picture changes when comparing flagged projects with each state’s total tracked facilities. In Virginia, 21.6% of projects are flagged, compared with 45.8% in Indiana.
This distinction highlights the difference between states with the largest number of flagged projects and those where opposition affects a greater share of tracked facilities.
What Counts as Data Center Opposition?
The registry distinguishes three categories:
- Contested: Active public debate, hearings, or petitions without a recorded lawsuit. Virginia leads with 21 projects.
- Opposed: Organized local opposition is the dominant documented response. Indiana leads with 12 projects.
- In litigation: A lawsuit related to the facility has been filed. Pennsylvania leads with 10 projects.
Geographically, the projects facing this kind of opposition are concentrated in the East, particularly the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest. Western states generally record fewer, although California stands out with 17.
This pattern partly reflects where data center development is concentrated, rather than necessarily indicating stronger opposition among eastern communities.
Americans Are Growing More Skeptical of Data Centers
A Pew Research Center survey found that 54% of Americans viewed data centers as mostly bad for the environment in August 2026, up from 39% in January. Negative perceptions of their impact on nearby quality of life rose from 30% to 49%.
Meanwhile, a Gallup survey found that 71% of Americans opposed AI data center construction in their local area.
As AI expands across industries, from critical mineral supply chains to infrastructure, communities are weighing technological investment against local costs.
New facilities can bring investment and tax revenue, but residents are also scrutinizing their long-term effects on electricity costs, water resources, and local infrastructure. Wider concerns about jobs exposed to AI add another dimension to the debate.
As the industry expands, community acceptance may become an increasingly important factor in determining where new data centers can be built.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To explore the infrastructure behind the AI boom, see The U.S. Holds 44% of Global Data Center Power, which compares America’s data center capacity with the rest of the world.