At least 75 data center projects valued at roughly $130 billion were blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, while total disruptions linked to community opposition reached approximately $228 billion when earlier periods were included. By July, more than 500 localities across 39 states had adopted bans, moratoriums or other restrictions on new facilities. Polling showing opposition from 61% to 71% of Americans has pushed the issue from local zoning debates into national politics. New York Governor Kathy Hochul paused permits for large data center facilities through a July 2026 executive order, and governors in Pennsylvania and Texas issued similar mandates. The AI Data Center Moratorium Act was introduced in March 2026, while eight states enacted laws rolling back data center tax subsidies and 17 more considered comparable measures. Amazon and Google are planning gigawatt-scale campuses, but their expansion strategies relied on relatively frictionless permitting and generous incentives. Technology companies are lobbying against restrictions, arguing that limits could weaken U.S. competitiveness against China and other rivals, while some are voluntarily disclosing water use, energy sources and noise levels to rebuild public trust.