Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of daily life but the infrastructure that supports it is something many Americans want no part of. 

A recent survey conducted by polling firm Ipsos on behalf of Seattle-based real estate brokerage Redfin found that nearly half, or 47%, of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their neighborhoods, with that opposition driven by environmental and job security concerns. 

That opposition has shown up in the Mid-Columbia, where at least four data center projects are planned or proposed.  

Amazon’s plans for a $5 billion data center campus on 550 acres at the Wallula Gap Business Park has generated pushback from some residents about its impacts on water and energy resources.  

West Richland residents showed up to a recent planning commission meeting to share their concerns about a possible data center at the Lewis & Clark Ranch development. 

According to the survey, Americans are slightly more likely to oppose data centers in their neighborhood than any other type of building Redfin asked about, such as modifying existing single-family homes into denser housing, construction of new apartments or mixed-used developments. 

Demographically, Gen Zers (48%) and millennials (50%) are more likely than Gen Xers (38%) and baby boomers (22%) to support data centers in their backyard. Roughly half (49%) of Republicans support the construction of an AI data center in their neighborhood, compared with 36% of Democrats. 

To view the full report, go to: redfin.com/news/survey-ai-data-center-neighborhoods