Data Center Watch says local opposition blocked or delayed 45 U.S. data-center projects worth about $68 billion in April–June 2026, more than half of its tracked large-scale developments. The figure reflects projects at risk, not confirmed investment losses.
Data Center Watch identified 843 opposition groups across 49 states; Hawaii was the only state absent from its list. It counted 75 contested projects worth roughly $130 billion in Q1 2026, compared with 45 in Q2.
Communities raised concerns about grid connections and upgrade costs, water use, land use and noise. About 30 statehouses introduced or adopted measures on data-center siting, electricity or water, but available reporting did not distinguish proposals from enacted laws by state. A petition opposing a proposed Tennessee project reportedly passed 500,000 signatures in Q2; the count was not independently verified.
