Rural Americans are significantly more concerned than urban and suburban residents about the potential impacts of artificial intelligence data centers, particularly higher electricity costs and the loss of farmland, according to new research from the University of Illinois and Purdue University.
The findings, published in farmdoc daily, examined public attitudes toward the rapid expansion of AI data centers and found that electricity costs topped the list of concerns among respondents. Rural residents expressed the highest levels of concern, with more than half saying they were "very worried" that additional data centers would drive up household power bills.
Researchers also found that the conversion of farmland for industrial development and increased water consumption ranked among the top concerns, with both issues scoring above the survey midpoint.
The study comes as demand for artificial intelligence continues to fuel a nationwide surge in data center construction. These facilities require extensive computing power, resulting in significant electricity consumption, while many also rely on large volumes of water to cool computer equipment. In addition, developers often seek large, relatively inexpensive tracts of land, making rural communities attractive locations for future projects.
Researchers said rural areas are increasingly being considered for AI infrastructure because they often have available land and access to electrical transmission systems. However, those same communities may bear many of the environmental and infrastructure impacts associated with the developments.
While large-scale data centers can provide an economic boost through construction activity and increased local tax revenue, the long-term employment benefits are generally limited. According to research from the Brookings Institution, most facilities require relatively few permanent employees once construction is complete.
The study highlights a growing divide in public perception as communities across the country consider proposals for new AI infrastructure. For many rural residents, concerns about rising utility costs, preserving agricultural land and protecting local water resources appear to outweigh the potential economic benefits promised by data center developers.
Researchers said understanding those concerns will be important as policymakers and local governments weigh future development proposals in rural communities.