A new line of research from Harvard highlights that the data-center backlash across the U.S. is accelerating as local governments respond to community impacts and infrastructure constraints. The research notes that over 1,000 data-center proposals are pending nationwide amid accelerating AI-driven demand. The article reports that residents and local officials are increasingly focused on air pollution, noise, and water use for cooling, alongside rising electricity costs that have outpaced inflation for many households. It also says federal policy signals are contributing to build-out speed, including administration emphasis on data centers as strategic infrastructure. At the local level, governments are using short-term moratoriums where zoning rules are not in place, suggesting that permitting and community consent are becoming decisive constraints for expansion plans.