Congress wants in on the data center backlash
Summary
Members of the U.S. Congress are proposing new laws to limit the building of data centers in communities across the country. These proposals respond to local concerns about environmental damage, high energy use, pollution, and increased utility costs caused by data centers.Key Facts
- Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) introduced the "Local Control Protection Act" to restrict companies from suing cities that reject data center applications.
- The bill would require data center developers to sign a "community benefit agreement" to qualify for federal tax breaks.
- Many local communities oppose new data centers because of worries about noise, pollution, and high electricity use.
- Over 350,000 people signed a petition against a data center near the Nashville Zoo.
- Seattle has temporarily banned large new data centers for one year.
- Both Republicans and Democrats have recently introduced over a dozen bills addressing data center impacts or limiting their construction.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a pause on all new data centers until laws protecting the public from AI risks are passed.
- Despite these efforts, passing such laws is unlikely soon, partly because AI-related companies are spending heavily to influence Congress.
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