Quick Buzz Feed
An August 2026 Franklin & Marshall College poll shows residents are concerned about artificial intelligence and the proliferation of massive data centers.
A new Franklin & Marshall College poll reveals significant public apprehension in Pennsylvania regarding artificial intelligence and the expansion of large-scale data centers. 84% of registered voters believe AI companies need stricter federal regulation, and 76% are nervous about recent AI advancements. Furthermore, 79% of voters oppose the construction of a data center in their community, and 66% feel that technological changes like smartphones and AI have had a more negative than positive impact on society.
State and local officials are responding to these public concerns. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a sweeping executive order to impose stricter environmental and job creation requirements on data center developers, requiring proof of local approvals for state permits, and adding conditions to sales tax exemptions. The order also bans non-disclosure agreements for projects under the governor’s control and removes data centers from the Fast Track permitting program. Locally, Reading has implemented a six-month moratorium on new data center proposals, and Cumru Township passed the county's first ordinance regulating data center development.
The Franklin & Marshall College poll involved interviews conducted from August 17 to 23 by their Center for Opinion Research. It gathered responses from 501 registered Pennsylvania voters, consisting of 213 Democrats, 208 Republicans, and 80 independents. The voter sample was sourced from Aristotle, with respondents participating either by phone or online. The survey results were weighted by age, gender, education, geography, and party registration to accurately reflect the state’s voter demographics, and it has a sample error of 5.5 percentage points.