# Americans Worry About AI's Environmental Toll

> A new poll shows growing bipartisan concern about data centers' impact on electricity, water, and communities.
- Title: Americans Worry About AI's Environmental Toll · TIME
- Summary: A new poll shows growing bipartisan concern about data centers' impact on electricity, water, and communities. More than half of Americans now worry about…
- Keywords: data centers, environmental impact, associated press-norc, energy policy institute, university of chicago, democrats, republicans, electricity consumption, water supply, clean energy, trump administration, Americans
- Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/09/16/majority-americans-worried-ai-environment-impact
- Author: Simmone Shah
- Published: 2026-09-16T19:20:24.31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, data centers, environmental impact, associated press-norc, energy policy institute, university of chicago, democrats, republicans, electricity consumption, water supply, clean energy, trump administration
## Concern about AI jumps sharply
53% of Americans are now extremely or very concerned about AI's environmental impacts, up from 41% last year.
## Worry crosses party lines
65% of Democrats, 49% of Independents, and 42% of Republicans now report being extremely or very worried about environmental impacts.
## Data center boom accelerates
The U.S. has 1,287 data centers operating now, with over 2,000 more planned. Growth is driven by massive AI training facilities.
## Most support limiting new centers
About 6 in 10 Americans, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans, would support limiting new data center construction.
## Water and electricity fears rise
60% worry about impacts on electricity prices and water supply. AI could use water equal to 1.3 billion people's needs by 2030.
## Clean energy support is strong
Two-thirds of Americans favor requiring data centers to use clean energy sources like wind or solar for their electricity needs.
## Trump pushes data center growth
The Trump Administration urged communities to embrace data centers, saying those who don't will "end up being backwards and poor."

> The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.
## Cities hit pause on construction
313 moratoriums have been enacted across 44 states and over 200 localities as communities seek to understand the impacts first.

> We're undertaking a massive experiment in real time, and I don't think there'll be any putting the milk back in the bottle.
## Key takeaway

More than half of Americans now worry about AI's environmental impact, with support growing for regulations on data center construction.