Americans don't know how to fight AI so they're fighting data centers

# Summary Americans are increasingly opposing data center construction in their communities, with 70% saying they would oppose one being built nearby, citing environmental and land-use concerns. However, the backlash likely reflects deeper anxieties about AI itself rather than legitimate ecological concerns, as the environmental case against data centers has been overstated. The article argues that fighting data centers locally is an ineffective policy response to AI concerns and that the U.S. needs a broader regulatory framework and national debate on how to govern AI development rather than opposing individual infrastructure projects.