Trellis Group published an analysis arguing that data centers have become the primary target of public and regulatory backlash against AI expansion, citing concerns over water use, energy consumption, and community displacement. The report calls for operators to adopt stronger transparency practices, including public disclosure of resource consumption and local economic impact data. Authors note that community opposition, moratoriums, and permit denials are accelerating in areas with concentrated data center development. The analysis recommends proactive stakeholder engagement as a prerequisite for new project approvals.