Report: $68B in U.S. data center projects halted or delayed by community opposition

Data Center Watch, a research organization focused on the data center industry, said on Sept. 21 that about 45 U.S. data center projects with a combined value of $68 billion were halted or delayed between April and June 2026 due to local community opposition.

Communities across the country are pushing for moratoriums on data center construction, often before developers have formally applied for permits. The report said around 30 state legislatures have introduced or passed regulations covering data center siting, electricity supply and water use.

The organization mainly tracks data center industry developments.