July 2026 PPIC Poll Shows Californians Back CEQA Reform and Oppose AI Data Centers

A July 2026 PPIC poll shows 73 percent of Californians support Prop 45, a ballot measure to reform CEQA and speed up environmental reviews for housing and infrastructure projects.

Broad Backing Across Party Lines

The same poll reveals 77 percent of likely voters oppose building AI data centers in their area, with 75 percent opposition specifically in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. CEQA reform support spans all demographics: 80 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of Republicans, and 73 percent of independents back the measure, with strongest support among renters and voters under 45.

Continued Approval for Core Environmental Reviews

Seventy-two percent of voters approve CEQA overall, including 90 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of independents, with 85 percent deeming CEQA review critical for protecting water quality, air quality, and public health. Sixty-four percent of Californians disapprove of the advanced manufacturing exemption from CEQA, opposing efforts to bypass environmental review for polluting industries near homes and schools.

The findings arrive as state leaders weigh changes to the California Environmental Quality Act amid ongoing pressure to increase housing supply. The poll results provide a clear snapshot of public priorities on balancing development speed with environmental safeguards. Los Angeles residents register among the strongest voices against new AI data centers in their communities.

These numbers reflect consistent patterns in how voters weigh the trade-offs between project acceleration and existing review standards. The survey captures sentiment across demographic groups without showing sharp regional divides on the core reform proposal itself.

Officials and advocates will now examine how the data shapes legislative and ballot strategy in the months ahead. The poll offers a factual baseline for discussions on housing, infrastructure, and technology infrastructure siting across the state.