The rapid growth of artificial intelligence in the United States is facing increasing resistance from local communities. Data centers, which are essential for the development of AI, are no longer seen solely as technical infrastructure for the digital economy. In many cities and states, they are becoming a political issue, raising concerns about electricity prices, water consumption, public incentives, and the right of residents to decide on the future of their surroundings.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the latest dispute is taking place in Arizona, where lawmakers are pushing for developers of data centers to pay higher state taxes. A temporary suspension of a three-year tax exemption is expected to bring the state approximately $57 million by 2029, according to Axios.

The debate about artificial intelligence is therefore shifting in the United States from laboratories, corporate presentations, and plans of technology giants to city councils, regulatory proceedings, and local referendums. Residents are increasingly asking who truly benefits from the AI boom and who will bear the costs of electricity, water, land, and infrastructure.

According to a report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers consumed approximately 4.4 percent of all electricity in the United States in 2023. This share could increase to 6.7 to 12 percent by 2028. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that the demand for electricity from U.S. data centers could increase from approximately 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts in 2027.

The energy burden is one of the main reasons for the resistance. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is already addressing how large electricity consumers, including data centers of more than approximately 20 megawatts, should connect to the grid and who should pay for its upgrades.

Public opinion is, according to surveys, highly skeptical. Gallup found that 71 percent of Americans are opposed to the construction of an AI data center in their area. A Pew Research Center survey released in March also showed that people have more negative than positive expectations about these facilities, especially regarding their impact on the environment, energy prices, and quality of life.

The resistance takes various forms. In Monterey Park, California, in Los Angeles County, voters approved a ban on data centers at the beginning of the month. In Seattle, the city council approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers, citing concerns about infrastructure, water consumption, energy intensity, land use, and economic impacts. In Utah, the Stratos project in Box Elder County was scaled back due to concerns about water rights, project management, electricity prices, and opposition from local residents.

Similarly, the state of New York has approved a one-year moratorium on large data centers of more than approximately 20 megawatts. The decision now rests with Governor Kathy Hochul. The debate includes studies on the impacts on electricity, water, land use, pollution, and the protection of ordinary consumers.

A particularly sensitive issue is water, especially in the western United States. Data centers are expanding into areas that are already facing water stress, such as California. Critics point out that a lack of transparency often makes it difficult to determine the actual water consumption.

The California Little Hoover Commission warned that AI data centers could increase electricity bills. It therefore recommended that the costs of upgrading the power grid should be borne primarily by technology companies, not households.

Proponents of data centers argue that they are a crucial infrastructure for the artificial intelligence economy, bringing construction projects, tax revenues, and technological capacity. Opponents argue that many projects rely on public subsidies, strain water and energy systems, and create only a limited number of permanent jobs.

The dispute, therefore, is not only about technology but also about trust and transparency. In several countries, residents and politicians criticize that projects are often negotiated without sufficient disclosure of information about energy consumption, water usage, and impacts on infrastructure.

For the United States, the opposition to data centers is becoming a practical obstacle to the further development of AI. The future of artificial intelligence will no longer depend only on chips, capital, and software, but also on electricity, water, permits, access to the network, and the consent of local communities.

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