A majority of voters hold negative views on data centers, 71% back mandatory community benefit pacts prior to development, and 64% favor a conditional development strategy
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The cost of living leads voters’ policy concerns, while fresh polling from the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy reveals backing for restrictions on data center growth, such as community benefits agreements and mandates that developers cover their own electricity costs.
The Rainey Center’s September Policy Survey polled 1,004 registered voters online from September 10–14, 2026. Responses were adjusted based on age, gender, race, education, 2024 voting history, and geographic region.
MAJOR RESULTS
– 80% consider inflation critical to their everyday routines. Groceries, fuel, and utilities are listed among the highest priorities by 57% of voters.
– 71% back the idea of requiring community benefits agreements before data centers can be built, while 38% cite compelling data center firms to pay their own electricity expenses as a leading AI concern for legislators.
– 64% lean toward a conditional development model that attracts investment but obligates developers to supply their own power, conduct public hearings, sign community benefit pacts, and accept curtailment ahead of residential customers when needed.
– Electricity costs and water consumption are major worries. Among voters with an unfavorable view of data centers, 28% point to higher electricity bills for households and 18% mention water usage. Only 2% reference noise or visual impact.
– AI usage is broad, but public opinion is divided. 52% utilize AI tools at least once a month and 42% say they use chatbots, while 70% report irritation upon discovering material was AI-generated.
Cost of Living Still the Leading Concern
The poll indicates that classic economic issues far surpass AI and data centers in overall significance to voters.
Groceries, fuel, and utilities top the list at 57%, trailed by employment and the economy at 30%, medical expenses at 29%, Social Security and Medicare at 26%, and housing at 20%.
Eighty percent view inflation as a vital matter in their day-to-day existence.
AI is among the top three concerns for 12% of voters, while data centers rank in the top three for 7%.
Voters Want Conditions on Data Center Expansion
Ninety-two percent of voters are aware of data centers, with 57% holding an unfavorable opinion. Twenty-nine percent think a data center is either operational or planned near their location. The survey finds 71% support requiring community benefits agreements ahead of data center construction.
Additionally, 38% identify compelling data center companies to shoulder their own electricity costs as a key priority for lawmakers tackling AI.
In a direct comparison of data center policy strategies, 64% favor a method that attracts investment while mandating developers to provide their own power, hold public meetings, sign community benefit agreements, and accept curtailment before residential customers when necessary.
An alternative centered on preserving current tax breaks received 35% support in the same comparison.
The survey also shows that views on data centers relate to candidate choice. Forty percent say a candidate’s opposition to data centers would increase their likelihood of voting for that person, while 15% say it would reduce that likelihood.
In a forced-choice scenario for a county-level office, 44% picked the candidate opposing data center development, versus 20% who chose the candidate supporting it.
AI Use Is Common, but Public Feeling Is Mixed
Although AI ranks among the top three issues for 12% of voters, 52% report using AI tools at least once a month, and 42% say they use chatbots.
Forty-one percent say nothing about AI excites them, while 70% say they feel annoyed upon discovering content was AI-generated.
The survey identifies broad backing for watermarking AI-produced content. Seventy-eight percent support this requirement, including 82% of Democrats, 77% of Republicans, and 75% of independents.
Voters also prefer a unified federal approach to AI regulation. Sixty-one percent want AI regulated mainly at the federal level, compared with 20% who favor state-level differences.
Perceptions of Water Use and Information Sources
Nearly half of voters, 48%, think a data center consumes far more water than almost any other facility.
Among those voters, the most frequently named sources for that belief are local TV and newspapers (45%), followed by national newspapers (32%) and cable TV (27%).
Methodology
The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy polled 1,004 registered voters via an online panel from September 10–14, 2026. Results were weighted on age, gender, race, education, 2024 vote recall, and region. The margin of error is ±4.9 percentage points. Subgroup margins of error are larger.
About the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy
The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy is a policy research and leadership development organization working to advance freedom, equality, and a more perfect union where the American Dream is for everyone. The Center conducts research and develops policy solutions across areas including energy, economic opportunity, innovation and technology, national security, and free and fair elections.
Megan Sibley
Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy
megan.sibley@raineycenter.org
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