A tracker counted 75 data-center projects blocked or delayed in early 2026
Data Center Watch reported about $130 billion in proposed investment affected in January–March. Its earlier two-thirds disruption figure applied to protested projects it tracked—not all US proposals.
The short version
- Data Center Watch counted at least 75 blocked or delayed projects in Q1 2026, representing approximately $130 billion in proposed investment.
- Its 66% figure for Q2 2025 concerns a selected set of 30 protested projects, not every proposed data center.
Why it matters. The national tally describes reported disruption; local decision records show whether a proposal was denied, withdrawn or temporarily held up.
Seventy-five projects hit resistance in one quarter
Data Center Watch’s January–March 2026 tally puts at least 75 projects in its blocked-or-delayed category. The estimated $130 billion is the value of proposed investment involved—not money already spent and lost.
Opposition organized around 30 projects
In Q2 2025, the tracker identified 53 active opposition groups and 30 projects facing protests across 17 states. Twenty of those projects were blocked or delayed—a share it reported as 66%. That is a majority of the protested projects it tracked, not a majority of every US proposal.
The decisions that stop construction
The local records show different paths. In San Marcos, council denied the plan change required before rezoning could proceed. In Prince William County, a court invalidated approvals and barred construction pending further appeal. In Monterey Park, the applicant withdrew and the city adopted a broader prohibition.
The obstacle can arrive before a zoning vote, after approvals, or through a restriction covering an entire city. A delay may still be resolved; a withdrawal or prohibition changes the path more substantially.
The supporting record
Data Center Watch's Q1 2026 summary reports at least 75 projects blocked or delayed amid local opposition.
The Q2 2025 summary reports 20 disrupted projects and a 66% share within its tracked protested-project set.
San Marcos denied a necessary plan amendment; the Digital Gateway court ruling prohibited land disturbance and construction while allowing further appeal.
What we do not yet know
- The proportion of all US proposals blocked by opposition; these public summaries do not provide that denominator.
- How many delays will become permanent cancellations, and how much announced investment will ultimately be spent elsewhere.
Original documents, with context
Sources you can inspect
1. Research tracker — public summary · Data Center Watch / 10a Labs
Q1 2026: reported data-center project disruptions
Counts blocked and delayed projects together. Proposed investment is not realized loss. The public summary is not a census of every US proposal.
Publication: January–March 2026 coverage · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: dcw-q1-2026
Location in source: Key Takeaway 1; research timeline2. Research tracker — public summary · Data Center Watch / 10a Labs
Q2 2025: outcomes among tracked protested projects
The percentage refers to a selected protested-project set, not all proposed data centers. The full commercial report was not purchased.
Publication: Late March–June 2025 coverage · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: dcw-q2-2025
Location in source: Key Takeaways 1 and 3: 20 disrupted projects; 30 protested projects; reported 66% share3. Court opinion · Court of Appeals of Virginia
Virginia Court of Appeals: Digital Gateway rezoning and notice decision
A dated appeals-court decision, not a statement that all litigation has ended. Page 53 allows further appeal while keeping land disturbance and construction prohibited under the order.
Publication: 2026-03-31 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: digital-gateway-appeal
Location in source: PDF pages 1–4: parties; pages 26–34: notice; pages 51–53: disposition and partial stay4. Official council recap · City of San Marcos
San Marcos council: plan amendment denied, zoning item not heard
The denial is of a required plan amendment for one tract. The accompanying zoning item was not heard; this was not a citywide data-center ban.
Publication: 2026-02-17 meeting · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: san-marcos-february-decision
Location in source: Items 8 and 9: Preferred Scenario Map amendment and ZC-25-13
Corrections & additional evidence · support@aipublicopinion.com
