According to CoinMeta, residents of Virginia have expressed increasingly strong opposition to the construction of data centers, especially in Northern Virginia, which is a global hub for data centers. A survey indicates that residents support restrictions on data center development to improve transparency and accountability. Public concerns about the power demands of data centers and their impact on the environment and surrounding communities are growing, leading to a rise in organized opposition. In July 2026, developers withdrew their proposal to build a 2,100-acre data center in Prince William County due to public protests. The survey showed that about 47% of residents support data center development in their area, 25% are neutral, and 27% are opposed. Residents wish to have a say before data center projects are approved and believe that supporting data center development is not contradictory to strengthening regulation.