A new study by Data Center Watch, a project of AI intelligence firm 10a Labs, revealed that the first quarter of 2026 saw the highest number of blocked and delayed data center projects on record in the United States, with at least 75 projects worth approximately $130 billion affected between January and March. This figure matches the total number and value of blocked or delayed projects for the entire year of 2025, indicating a significant escalation in opposition activity rather than a temporary spike [1].
The study attributes this surge to a 'structural shift,' noting that communities have adopted a systematic opposition playbook, legislative sessions have introduced formal regulatory uncertainty, and the number of active opposition groups more than doubled to 833 across 49 states by March 2026, up from 396 at the end of 2025. The states with the most opposition groups were Maryland, Ohio, and Texas [1].
Legislative efforts to impose moratoriums on data center construction also increased sharply, with proposals introduced in 14 states during the first quarter of 2026. Notably, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) introduced a federal moratorium proposal, and one state-level bill reached the desk of Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who vetoed it in April. Over 300 bills related to data centers were introduced in state legislatures in the first six weeks of 2026, marking a shift from incentive-based policies to regulatory oversight as concerns about energy demands grew [1].
The opposition is largely driven by resident concerns over energy consumption and environmental impact, prompting political leaders from both parties to reconsider their previous support for data center investments. Proponents of data centers argue that these concerns are exaggerated or based on faulty data, emphasizing the economic benefits and the necessity of data centers to support the ongoing AI boom [1].
CONCLUSION
The first quarter of 2026 marked an unprecedented wave of opposition to U.S. data center projects, resulting in $130 billion worth of developments being blocked or delayed. With legislative and grassroots resistance intensifying, the market faces significant regulatory uncertainty and potential slowdowns in data center expansion.