As data center development accelerates to support AI, cloud, and digital services, Americans are sending a clear message: they are not opposed to living near data centers. They simply want them built the right way. New research from Airedale by Modine, a global leader in precision cooling solutions for data centers, shows that most people will support nearby facilities when they meet practical expectations of economic benefits, reduced noise, and thoughtful design.

The Airedale Data Center Community Acceptance Report, based on a national survey conducted by the third-party platform Pollfish of 600 Americans, shows that proximity is not the problem. People prefer a data center one mile away that delivers faster internet and jobs over a site eight miles away that offers nothing to the community. Support strengthens when operators adopt quieter cooling technologies and provide measurable local value.

Key findings from the report include:

  • 63% would accept a data center within one mile if it improves internet reliability and brings jobs
  • 49% wouldn’t sacrifice faster internet, stable power, jobs, or lower costs to avoid proximity
  • Job creation drives the strongest support: 58% are very supportive when projects hire locally
  • Tax benefits to the community generate 50% very supportive responses
  • Quieter cooling technology would increase support for 62% of Americans
  • 48% are very supportive when noise-reducing technology is employed
  • 42% expect no impact on property values from a nearby facility
  • Only 5% perceive data centers as extremely loud

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The research reveals a clear hierarchy of what moves communities from resistance to support. Economic benefits anchor acceptance, with job creation and tax revenue generating the strongest positive responses. Cooling technology choices matter more than general noise concerns, offering developers a specific and actionable path forward.

“The path to community acceptance is clear: deliver economic value, minimize disruption, and prove it,”  said John Williams, Group Vice President – Americas DC, Airedale by Modine. “Our role is to give data center operators the tools to meet those expectations. By reducing the cooling footprint and providing transparent metrics, we help operators expand capacity responsibly, turning conditional support into lasting partnerships with the communities they serve.”