RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
More than half of adults in the United States have expressed serious concern about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, with growing attention focused on the electricity and water demands of data centres supporting the rapidly expanding technology.
A new nationwide survey released on Wednesday found that 53 per cent of Americans were either “extremely” or “very” concerned about the environmental effects associated with AI.
The figure represents a significant increase from 41 per cent recorded in a comparable survey last year, indicating that public concern has risen by 12 percentage points.
The findings were based on interviews conducted in August with 3,424 adults across the United States.
ELECTRICITY PRICES, WATER SUPPLY RAISE CONCERNS
Beyond AI’s broader environmental footprint, the survey showed substantial concern about the effects of data centres on communities where they are located.
Many respondents expressed worries that the rapid construction and expansion of data centres could increase local electricity prices and place additional pressure on water supplies.
Modern data centres house large numbers of computer servers and other equipment required to process, store and transmit digital information.
The rapid development of generative AI and other computationally intensive technologies has increased demand for large-scale facilities capable of providing the computing power required to train and operate advanced AI systems.
Such facilities can consume significant amounts of electricity, while some also require considerable quantities of water for cooling equipment.
CONCERN RISES ACROSS POLITICAL GROUPS
The survey found differences in the level of concern among Americans based on political affiliation.
About two-thirds of Democrats surveyed expressed a high level of concern about AI’s environmental impact, compared with approximately half of independents and four in 10 Republicans.
Despite the differences, concerns surrounding the effects of data centres on electricity costs and local water resources extended across political groups.
The findings come as communities in different parts of the United States debate the economic and environmental implications of new data-centre projects.
THOUSANDS OF DATA CENTRES OPERATING ACROSS US
Thousands of data centres are already operating across the United States, while additional facilities are under construction as technology companies expand infrastructure supporting AI and cloud-computing services.
The facilities range from conventional data centres that have operated for decades to large hyperscale complexes designed to handle enormous volumes of computing activity.
Virginia and Texas are among the states with the largest concentration of operating data centres, while California, Ohio and New York are also major locations for digital infrastructure.
The expansion has been promoted in some communities because of potential investment and employment opportunities, while critics have raised questions about electricity demand, water consumption and the effect of large facilities on surrounding areas.
EXPERTS HIGHLIGHT LOCAL WATER IMPACT
Energy specialists have noted that while data centres do not account for the largest share of overall water consumption in the United States, their impact can become significant in individual communities.
Fengqi You, an energy systems professor at Cornell University, said data-centre water consumption could be relatively modest when considered nationally but potentially significant at the local level.
Water is commonly used in cooling systems designed to prevent high-performance computer processors and other equipment from overheating.
The growing concentration of AI infrastructure has consequently intensified discussions about how communities should balance technological investment with existing demands from households, agriculture, businesses and other industries.
RAPID AI EXPANSION FUELS DEBATE
The findings come amid continuing expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States.
President Donald Trump has encouraged communities to accept new technology facilities, arguing that data-centre investment can contribute to employment and economic development.
At the same time, some lawmakers and community groups have sought stronger safeguards surrounding the development of data centres, particularly concerning electricity demand, environmental effects and water availability.
Michael Greenstone, director of the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, said the rapid technological transformation was occurring on a significant scale and was contributing to public uncertainty.
The latest survey suggests that as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into businesses, government services and everyday life, public attention is expanding beyond the capabilities of the technology to include the physical resources required to support its growth.
