Nearly 3 in 4 voters think AI will eliminate more jobs than it will create, while just 7% believe it will create more jobs than it eliminates, and 13% think it will have little to no impact either way, according to the poll.
“The policy debate around data centers is just beginning, as questions remain over appropriate zoning, how energy is sourced, and who pays for much-needed grid upgrades,” said Hughes Center Assistant Director Alyssa Maurice. “At the same time, New Jersey leaders are sure to face continued pressure to reduce energy costs for residents.”
The poll comes as residents in Vineland continue to fight a 2.6 million-square-foot data center at Lincoln and Sheridan avenues. Documents show the facility would rely on three on-site natural-gas power generation buildings, additional generators and potential new substations, ultimately capable of producing more electricity than the entire city currently uses. The project is being developed by DataOne, with Netherlands-based Nebius as the operating tenant under a multiyear agreement to supply AI infrastructure to Microsoft.
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Residents and environmental groups have packed meetings on the project expressing concerns about the impact it will have both on the community and on the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, a major South Jersey drinking water source. Also, residents living near the data center have taken to social media to complain about a "humming" noise coming from the area of the facility.
A majority of voters are very or somewhat concerned about the impact of data centers on electricity costs in the state and about the impact data centers will have on the environment, including energy and water use.
According to the poll, 84% of New Jersey voters would support requiring data centers to supply their own new sources of power rather than relying on the existing electric grid, and 9% oppose.
“New Jersey is home to many energy-intensive industries, from pharmaceuticals to advanced manufacturing to technology, and the growth of data centers anywhere in the region will only add to existing demand pressures,” Maurice said.
Just 8% of voters believe data centers benefit the communities in which they are located, while nearly half (49%) say they do more harm than good, 22% think they have little impact either way, and about the same rate (21%) are unsure, according to the poll.
“The findings highlight the challenge facing policymakers as they try to balance economic growth tied to AI infrastructure with growing public concern about costs, environmental sustainability, and local community impact,” Maurice said.
© 2026 The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
