US data center projects worth $68bn delayed by local protests in Q2

September 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Local opposition groups delayed 45 US data center projects worth $68 billion in the second quarter of 2026. The delays affected half of all large data centers announced in the US during that period. The protests come as President Donald Trump opposes public resistance to data center construction, saying it benefits China.

Key Facts

843 local opposition groups in 49 US states are active against data center projects.
In Q2 2026, these groups delayed 45 projects worth $68 billion.
A single Tennessee project gathered over 500,000 petition signatures on Change.org in Q2.
In Q1 2026, public opposition affected 75 data center projects worth $130 billion.
About 30 US states have adopted rules on data center location, power, and water supply.

Opposition Movement

Data Center Watch statistics from April to June 2026 show 843 initiative groups in 49 states opposing data center projects. Hawaii is the only US state without such groups. The groups increasingly use petitions, with one Tennessee project collecting over 500,000 signatures on Change.org in Q2. That figure represents more than a third of all signatures gathered on the platform during the period.

Project Delays

In Q2 2026, opposition groups negatively affected timelines for 45 projects worth $68 billion. These 45 projects accounted for half of all large data centers announced in the US during the quarter. In Q1 2026, public intervention affected 75 data centers worth $130 billion. Companies are increasingly choosing smaller data center projects because they are easier to approve and cheaper to build.

Regulatory Response

About 30 US states have established rules on data center location, electricity supply, and water resources. Citizen groups often succeed in imposing moratoriums on data center construction before builders even file applications. President Donald Trump opposes public resistance to data center construction, saying it ultimately benefits only China. Protests against data centers are also observed in Europe, Australia, and South Africa.