Canadian poll shows 81% fear AI data centres will raise power bills and harm environment

Public opposition to the AI infrastructure boom is intensifying in Canada, with a new survey revealing widespread concern over rising electricity costs and ecological damage.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-18 15:00 UTC · 1 min read

A significant majority of Canadians are expressing deep concern about the environmental and economic impact of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence data centre sector.

According to a recent poll conducted by Leger, 81 per cent of respondents worry that these facilities will drive up household power bills and cause lasting harm to the environment.

The survey highlights a growing disconnect between the tech industry’s infrastructure ambitions and public sentiment.

As major technology firms continue to invest billions in data centre capacity across North America, the social license to operate is becoming a critical variable for developers and regulators alike.

The concerns are not limited to abstract environmental principles; they are directly tied to the tangible cost of living, specifically electricity rates.

This public anxiety arrives as rating agencies and policymakers increasingly scrutinize the resource intensity of AI infrastructure.