US data centers use enough electricity to power upwards of 16 million homes annually – the statistics on why opposition groups are pushing for People Over Profit
So far in 2026, almost half of all planned data centers in the US have been delayed or cancelled, with the barriers ranging from chip shortages to insufficient energy infrastructure.
But local opposition is quickly becoming a new force that developers have to reckon with, especially after a single movement in Box Elder county, Utah, gained global attention.
A single slogan, “People Over Profits”, has been seen on signs, banners, and placards throughout data center opposition groups across the country.
Energy consumption
Electricity price comparison site Electric Choice estimates that in 2023, over 4,500 data centers consumed around 176 TWh of electricity, or enough to power more than 16 million homes per year.
That was roughly 4.4% of US annual electricity consumption in 2023. In 2024, the Electric Power Research Institute estimated that AI data center consumption could be between 10-20% of US electricity consumption.
Now, in 2026,...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to techradar.com. To see the full text click HERE
