Poll shows widespread opposition to data centers and growing public anxiety over AI's impact
A statewide survey released by the Rutgers found that 55% of New Jerseyans feel the costs of data centers.
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Most New Jersey residents believe the heavy resource demands of data centers outweigh their economic benefits, with a vast majority opposing the construction of new facilities anywhere in the state, according to a new poll from Ruters Univerity.
A statewide survey released Thursday by the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll found that 55% of New Jerseyans feel the costs of data centers—such as high electricity and water consumption and potential utility rate hikes—outweigh the jobs and tax revenue they generate. Only 11% say the benefits outweigh the costs, while 19% view them as equal.
Opposition to the infrastructure is widespread across the state, with 72% of residents opposing a data center in their own town or city, 64% opposed to one in a neighboring county, and 62% opposed statewide.
"What stands out about data centers is that no group reaches majority support anywhere — not in their own town, not in a neighboring county, not in the state at large," said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
The skepticism extends to artificial intelligence as a whole, despite widespread daily use. While 30% of residents report that AI has a positive impact on their day-to-day lives, opinions turn largely negative when considering broader impacts. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, believe AI has a negative impact on the environment, 43% say it negatively impacts jobs, and 39% view its effect on education negatively.
At the same time, usage remains high: more than a third of New Jerseyans report purposefully using AI tools such as chatbots or image generators at least once a day, and 55% interact with built-in AI technology daily through search engines or social media.
The probability-based survey of 1,004 adults was conducted between September 24 and September 27 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
