A Gallup poll in March indicated that 71% of U.S. respondents oppose the construction of data centers near their communities, a higher percentage than those opposing nuclear power plants, according to the report. Rising electricity prices have also heightened political sensitivity, with the average U.S. residential electricity price increasing by 12% year-over-year in Q1 2026. New York State has issued the nation's first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data center projects, while states like Texas and Virginia have implemented review processes or cost-sharing requirements, exacerbating permitting risks due to regulatory fragmentation.