Mary Anne Zivnuska, a strategic consultant writing for The Kansas City Star, warns that Big Tech companies must engage more effectively with local communities to halt the spread of misinformation regarding data center construction. In an opinion piece published May 18, 2026, Zivnuska argues that a lack of transparency from tech giants and local governments has fueled a political backlash that now threatens essential artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This growing opposition has already manifested in significant election upsets across Missouri, where voters recently rejected incumbents who supported secretive data center deals.
The urgency stems from a series of local government shifts that occurred during the April 2026 elections. In Independence, Missouri, voters ousted city council members who had approved $6 billion in tax breaks for data centers. A similar wave hit Festus, located outside St. Louis, where every single incumbent council member was replaced by candidates running on pro-transparency platforms. These voters aren’t just reacting to the projects themselves; they are rebelling against the perceived secrecy of the decision-making process.
Industry analyst Carlini notes that “community support has become just as material as technical feasibility” for these projects. Without public buy-in, even the most well-funded tech giants face delays that could cede ground to international competitors. As tech firms navigate these local hurdles, they are also managing broader market shifts, including macro warning signs emerge that often coincide with rising infrastructure costs and power constraints.
Rising public opposition to data center construction
New data highlights a significant gap between the industry’s expansion goals and public sentiment. A Gallup poll conducted between March 2 and March 18, 2026, found that 70% of respondents oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local areas. The intensity of this resistance is notable, with 48% expressing “strong opposition,” while only 7% say they are strongly in favor of such developments. This sentiment is largely driven by environmental concerns, with 46% of people worried about the impact these facilities have on local resources.
Surprisingly, the poll shows that the public is now more resistant to AI data centers than to nuclear energy. While 53% of Americans oppose building nuclear power plants in their area, that figure is actually lower than the 70% who oppose data center construction. Demographically, the opposition is led by women and Democrats, groups that The New American Journal reports are more likely to express strong resistance to these industrial expansions. This level of pushback can complicate institutional investment trends in advanced infrastructure as developers face unpredictable local permit battles.
The consequences of this resistance extend beyond individual city council meetings. Steven Dickens, Founder and CEO of HyperFrame Research, warns that the necessary infrastructure will be built eventually. “The question is where, and where the jobs and investment will land. Will it be Texas, or will it be in Beijing?” Dickens says. This geopolitical dimension suggests that local NIMBYism (not-in-my-backyard) could eventually threaten the United States’ global leadership in AI technology.
Big Tech must prioritize transparency and engagement
Zivnuska contends that Big Tech’s tendency to operate in “stealth mode” is its own worst enemy. By relying on non-disclosure agreements and excluding the public from early discussions, companies leave a vacuum that is quickly filled by misinformation. To counter this, she suggests that developers should learn from federal government experiences with large-scale projects and engage directly with the public through town halls and clear data sharing. Currently, a new website titled “Data Center Opposition” is already coordinating activists across regions to fight these projects.
The industry is already feeling the squeeze of these infrastructure bottlenecks. During recent hyperscaler earnings calls, Microsoft referenced power and infrastructure constraints affecting its deployment timelines. Amazon has also emphasized rising investments in land and power to keep up with AI demand. As these companies struggle to secure resources, Ethereum network outlook reports and other digital sector analyses continue to point to the growing physical energy needs of the broader tech ecosystem.
To bypass grid-related opposition, some developers are pivoting toward innovative energy solutions. This includes behind-the-meter generation, microgrids, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to reduce the strain on local utilities. While these technical fixes may lessen the environmental footprint, they do not replace the need for genuine community outreach. As Zivnuska concludes, if companies continue to ignore the community, the political backlash seen in Missouri will likely become the new national standard.
