N.J. voters want moratorium on data center construction, growth in energy supply, poll finds

A poll of New Jersey voters found a majority supports a ban on data center construction until power plants can be built to handle the energy load, and voters support the construction of natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy plants. 

The poll found 65% support a temporary moratorium on data center construction, with just 32% opposed. And when given the chance, voters from both parties support most of the options to increase the supply of energy on the grid.

“Freezing electric bills helps, but it doesn’t solve the long-term problem or bring costs back down to where they used to be,” said Dan Cassino, the executive director of the FDU Poll. “The state needs to expand capacity, and voters don’t seem to care too much how we do it, so long as it gets done.”

Data center development has quickly become a top issue in New Jersey politics. Critics say the data centers sap up energy, driving prices up, and harming the environment. And though developers and artificial intelligence proponents say the centers are necessary to improve vital technology and support the economy, voters are expressing doubts.

“Rightly or wrongly, voters blame data centers for their increased electricity bills,” Cassino said. “The argument that doing so would hurt the state economy doesn’t help when people are worried about their own finances.”

The poll questions were sponsored by the International Union of Operating Engineers — Cassino said the union did not control the wording of the questions, which adhered to the poll’s objectivity standards.

The poll described the types of power plants in differing manners: voters support the construction of natural gas plants, which the poll said “can come online faster than other types of power,” 76%-21%. Voters support nuclear plants — “which give reliable power, but may take years to come online” — 56%-42%. And they also support renewable plants, like wind and solar farms — “which provide clean energy, but will take years to come online” — 67%-32%.

Democrats were much more likely to support renewable energy plants — 90% of Democrats support such plants, versus just 38% of Republicans. But Republicans were more likely to support natural gas and nuclear facilities.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed legislation last week to adjust waste requirements for nuclear energy plants, a change that she said lifts an effective 40-year moratorium on nuclear energy.

“Governor Sherrill is leading in the right direction to support an ‘all of the above’ generation strategy that includes natural gas generating plants that could include a transition to hydrogen production once it is a more available alternative,” Greg Lalevee, the business manager for IUOE Local 825, said in a release. “New Jersey voters understand we need to be quickly producing more energy in our state to make electricity more affordable.”

The same poll found Gov. Mikie Sherrill possesses a 58% approval rating at this early stage of her term.

The Fairleigh Dickson University Poll was conducted between March 20-28 with a sample size of 805 registered voters and a margin of error of +/- 3.4%.