The Pennsylvania survey was sponsored by RealClearPolitics Institute of News & Information (RCPINI).
Perception of Artificial Intelligence in PA
Forty-eight percent of Pennsylvania residents think Artificial Intelligence will have more of a negative impact on the economy, while 25% think it will have a more positive impact. Similarly, 46% think it will have a negative impact on the environment, and 21% a positive impact.
Over half of Pennsylvanians (55%) think advances in artificial intelligence will decrease the number of jobs available in the industry they are currently employed in, while 16% think AI will increase the number of jobs, and 29% think it will have no impact.
- 59% of those who work in the healthcare industry think AI will decrease jobs in their industry, along with 64% of those in finance, insurance, or real estate, and 60% of those working in professional/business services, and 44% of those in manufacturing.
23% of Pennsylvanians know someone who lost their job due to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence; 77% do not.
Thirty percent of Pennsylvanians think artificial intelligence poses a “significant threat” to humanity, 41% think it is a “moderate threat,” 20% a “minor threat,” and 10% “no threat at all.”
Data Center Awareness
A majority of Pennsylvania residents (56%) are familiar (16% very familiar/41% somewhat familiar) with data centers, while 29% are not too familiar and 14% not at all familiar with them. A plurality (44%) are not sure if any data centers have recently been built or proposed in their area of Pennsylvania, 33% think there are data centers being built and proposed, and 23% not.
- As educational attainment increases, familiarity with data centers increases, from 45% of those with a high school degree or less to 76% of those with postgraduate degrees.
- 60% of those who are “very familiar” with data centers are aware a data center has been built or proposed in their area, 41% of those somewhat familiar know of a center in their area, 19% of those not too familiar and 8% of those not at all familiar.
Thirty-eight percent of Pennsylvanians support data centers being built in Pennsylvania, 35% oppose, while 27% are neutral or have no opinion. When asked if they support data centers being built in or near their community, opposition increases: 42% oppose and 34% support; 24% are neutral or have no opinion.
- 48% of men support data centers being built in Pennsylvania compared to 29% of women.
Pennsylvanians’ support for the building of data centers in their community varies by region:
Perceived Impact of Data Centers on Key Areas
71% are concerned (34% very, 37% somewhat) about the amount of electricity data centers use. Twenty-nine percent are not concerned (20% not too concerned/9% not at all concerned). Seventy percent are concerned about the amount of water data centers use, while 30% are not concerned.
Thirty-one percent agree with the statement, “Pennsylvania’s electrical grid is capable of supporting the energy demand from new data centers,” while 33% disagree and 37% are neutral.
Residents were asked if data centers being built in Pennsylvania will have a positive or negative impact on a series of areas.
- Jobs: 45% positive, 19% negative, 14% no impact, 22% unsure
- Economy: 38% positive, 24% negative, 13% no impact, 24% unsure
- Quality of life: 22% positive, 32% negative, 23% no impact, 23% unsure
- Environment: 18% positive, 44% negative, 17% no impact, 21% unsure
- Cost of living: 17% positive, 43% negative, 17% no impact, 23% unsure
Seventy percent of Pennsylvanians strongly (39%) or somewhat (31%) support requiring data centers to provide their own energy generation sources, rather than get electricity from the public grid. Five percent somewhat (3%) or strongly (2%) oppose, and 24% are neutral.
- Those who support data centers providing their own energy generation were asked if they would support it even if it meant more fossil fuel power plants to meet demand: 21% strongly support, 28% somewhat support, 16% somewhat oppose, and 15% strongly oppose. Twenty percent are neutral.
- Those who opposed requiring data centers to provide their own energy generation were asked if they would support or oppose not requiring data centers to provide their own energy generation sources if it increased electric bills: 2% strongly support, 12% somewhat support, 30% somewhat oppose, 36% strongly oppose, and 20% are neutral.
A majority of Pennsylvanians (61%) think it is very (17%) or somewhat (44%) likely that data centers will create a significant number of new jobs in Pennsylvania, while 39% think it is not too likely (30%) or not at all likely (9%).
Pennsylvanians were asked which of the following best describes their biggest concern about new data centers in the state:
- 26% Environmental impacts (carbon emissions, heat, water use)
- 25% Cost to taxpayers or utility customers
- 25% Energy demand on the electrical grid
- 9% Noise or land use near residential areas
- 15% Something else or none of the above
Split Half Test
- About half of respondents were asked, “Does a candidate for office opposing the construction of data centers in Pennsylvania make you more or less likely to support them for office, or does it make no difference?
- 30% More likely
- 24% Less likely
- 46% No difference
- The other half of respondents were asked, “Does a candidate for office supporting the construction of data centers in Pennsylvania make you more or less likely to support them for office, or does it make no difference?
- 22% More likely
- 31% Less likely
- 47% No difference
Information on Data Centers
Seventy-one percent have received no information about data centers from local officials, while 23% have received some information, and 6% have received a lot of information about data centers from local officials. Among those who have received information, 39% have found it helpful, 28% not helpful, and 33% neither helpful nor not helpful.
Compared to this time last year, 59% say their electric bill increased, 28% say it stayed about the same, and 7% note it decreased.
A majority of respondents (67%) are satisfied with the consistency of their electric service, 19% are neutral, and 13% are unsatisfied.
Approval on Political Leaders in Pennsylvania
Governor Josh Shapiro holds a 49% approval rating, while 22% disapprove of his performance, and 30% are neutral or have never heard of him.
- Shapiro holds a 76% approval among Democrats, 37% among independents, and 29% among Republicans.
Thirty-four percent of Pennsylvanians approve of the job David McCormick is doing as Senator, while 28% disapprove and 37% are neutral or have never heard of him. Thirty-nine percent approve of the job John Fetterman is doing as Senator, while 33% disapprove, and 28% are neutral or have never heard of him.
- McCormick holds a 58% job approval among Republicans, 23% among independents, and 19% among Democrats.
- Fetterman holds a 57% job approval among Republicans, 30% among independents, and 31% among Democrats.
Methodology
The Real Clear Pennsylvania survey was conducted November 19-23, 2025. The sample of Pennsylvania adults, n=2000, has a credibility interval, similar to a poll’s margin of error (MOE), of +/- 2 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, education, race, and age based on US Census parameters. Data was collected by contacting cellphones via MMS-to-web text and an online panel of voters provided by CINT. Panel responses were matched to the voter file.
It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals, as the sample size is reduced. Survey results should be understood within the poll’s range of scores, and with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times. The survey was sponsored by RealClearPolitics Institute of News & Information (RCPINI).
