New Polling: Latino Voters Raise Concerns About AI Data Centers
tags
Survey reveals concerns among Latino voters about the impact of AI data centers on their communities
WASHINGTON — A new national survey from Blue Rose Research, conducted on behalf of Climate Power En Acción, finds that a majority of Latino voters express concern about the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers near their communities. This concern holds up across different potential impacts of these projects: 58% oppose vs. 18% support their construction when the question focuses on a possible increase in utility costs, while 56% oppose vs. 25% support when a possible reduction in water supply is raised.
The survey also shows strong support for clean energy. 59% of Latino voters believe data centers should be required to run on clean energy, compared to 19% who say they should use whatever source is available. By wide margins, Latino voters trust clean energy more than fossil fuels, both to keep electricity costs low and to limit pollution.
“Our families live in the most polluted and vulnerable areas. With the expansion of data centers, there is strong concern in the community about the impact on electricity costs, water consumption, and air pollution,” said Antonieta Cádiz, executive director of Climate Power En Acción. “This survey confirms what we hear time and time again: our communities want clean, affordable energy that reduces pollution, not empty promises from companies and politicians they don’t trust. Tech companies can’t be given a blank check; they must consider the impact they have on the communities where they build their data centers and act accordingly.”
The survey also finds low trust among Latino voters toward some of the companies involved in the expansion of data centers, particularly artificial intelligence companies, as well as differences in trust levels toward Democrats and Republicans on this issue. By contrast, clean energy companies register a positive net trust rating.
Key findings:
- A majority of Latinos reject data centers being built near homes: 58% oppose vs. 18% support (utility costs concerns); 56% oppose vs. 25% support (water supply concerns).
- Clear preference for clean energy: 59% say data centers should be required to use it, compared to just 19% who say it should be whatever source is available.
- Clean energy wins on cost and pollution: 64% consider clean energy most important for keeping electricity costs low (vs. 22% for fossil fuels), and 57% believe it will do a better job limiting pollution (vs. 23% for fossil fuels).
- Split on cost: 31% say clean energy is cheaper than fossil fuels; 30% say it’s more expensive.
- Distrust of companies, especially AI companies: AI companies (-38pp), oil and gas companies (-20pp), and utility companies (-19pp) have negative net trust. Clean energy companies are the exception, at +7pp.
- More trust in Democrats:
- State (+8pp) and congressional (+5pp) Democrats have positive net trust.
- State (-15pp) and congressional (-22pp) Republicans have negative trust.
This research was conducted via web surveys between June 30 – July 7, 2026. 4,144 Latino respondents were interviewed nationally, and results were weighted to the 2024 national Latino electorate. The margin of error for polling is ±1.8pp.
###