A new AP-NORC poll conducted in July 2026 found that 53% of Americans are extremely or very concerned about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, up from 41% last year. The concern is highest among Democrats, with two-thirds expressing high concern. About 6 in 10 Americans support limiting new data centers. The poll also highlighted worries about electricity prices and water supply. Data centers are major energy and water consumers, and their construction is booming, particularly in rural areas.
We’ll perform a deep-dive analysis of all sources and publicly available external materials, then prepare a structured timeline of events, an in-depth report explaining the background and context, and multiple perspectives.