Colorado Voters Oppose AI Data Centers
Colorado Voters Oppose AI Data Centers
Anonymous
Key Points
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Michael Greenstone, who led the University of Chicago institute involved in the national survey, described the rapid expansion of AI as “a massive experiment in real time,” adding that “there’ll be no putting the milk back in the bottle.”
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Although 87% of existing U.S. data centers are located in urban areas, most newly planned facilities are slated for rural communities, according to a Pew Research Center analysis cited in the national polling report.
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The Colorado poll found that at least 71% of respondents believed AI would negatively affect elections, personal relationships and social media. Among respondents ages 45 to 64, 55% viewed AI unfavorably, compared with about 49% of those 65 and older.
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Colorado Republicans were divided on AI, with 48% expressing a favorable view, while unfavorable views reached 75% among Democrats and 70% among unaffiliated voters. Republican concern about keeping pace with China reached 70%.
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In the New York Times–Siena poll, opposition to AI data centers was concentrated among voters who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 or did not vote: 74% and 67%, respectively. By contrast, 2024 Donald Trump voters were nearly split, with 49% supporting and 45% opposing construction.
Coloradans overwhelmingly oppose new AI data centers, with 86% rejecting facilities in their neighborhoods and 75% opposing them statewide, according to a Vail Daily survey of nearly 1,400 registered voters. The pushback reflects a national trend: 60% of Americans oppose new AI data centers, citing water use, energy demands, and weak oversight. Even as 60% of Coloradans have used tools like ChatGPT, two-thirds view AI unfavorably.
Concerns about AI's environmental footprint are surging nationwide. A AP-NORC poll found 53% of Americans are extremely or very concerned about AI's environmental costs — up from 41% last year. University of Chicago researcher Michael Greenstone called rapid AI expansion "a massive experiment in real time," warning that "there'll be no putting the milk back in the bottle."
Colorado's AI Skepticism Breaks Along Age Lines
Young Coloradans are most opposed to AI. Among ages 18 to 44, 81% viewed AI unfavorably, compared with 55% of those 45 to 64 and 49% of those 65 and older, the Magellan Strategies survey found. Concerns ranged from job losses to unreliable results and damage to critical-thinking skills.
Democrats and unaffiliated voters showed stronger opposition overall. At least 71% across all demographics believed AI would negatively affect elections, personal relationships, and social media — a sign that concerns cut across age and party lines.
Republicans See AI as Economic Necessity Against China
Colorado Republicans diverged from their Democratic and independent peers. Just 48% of Republicans viewed AI unfavorably, versus 75% of Democrats and 70% of unaffiliated voters. Magellan Strategies found that 70% of Republicans cited the need to compete with China as important.
Nationally, the political divide was sharper still. A New York Times–Siena poll showed 74% of Harris 2024 voters opposed data centers, versus just 49% of Trump voters. Yet even Trump supporters were split, with 45% opposing construction.
Data Centers Shifting From Cities to Rural Areas
Most existing U.S. data centers sit in urban zones — 87% of the total, Pew Research reported. But newly planned facilities are heading to rural communities, raising concerns about water depletion and power grid strain in less-regulated areas. This mismatch between where data centers exist and where they're planned fuels local opposition.
Voters nationwide want guardrails, not outright bans. Many favor strict zoning rules and tighter regulations over prohibition. Colorado's Magellan Strategies found a majority supported banning new construction or imposing stricter zoning — a middle ground between acceptance and rejection.
AI Ranks Low on Voters' Election Priorities
Despite rising concern, AI remains a secondary issue. Voters rank the economy, inflation, and jobs far higher in national elections. Michael Greenstone at the University of Chicago noted the scale of the challenge: rapid AI growth means society is essentially running an uncontrolled experiment with unknown outcomes.
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