Washington– Two prominent progressive lawmakers are introducing a bill Wednesday that would pause new data centers in the United States until national safeguards are put in place to protect workers and consumers and make sure the technologies don’t harm the environment.
The legislation introduced by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is unlikely to take effect in the House or Senate, but it shows the deep concerns that many progressives share about it. The growing influence of data centers And artificial intelligence.
Communities across the country have witnessed a Backlash against data centers Due to concerns about rising electricity prices and concerns about pollution and water consumption. Opposition to higher energy prices was also a major factor in Democrats’ election wins last year in states including Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey.
Despite the progress in artificial intelligence They are viewed by President Donald Trump and other leaders as critical to the country’s economic and national security, and their growing energy needs threaten to overwhelm the power grid. Trump has sought to deflect public concerns about artificial intelligence Big Tech companies to the White House earlier this month to commit to developing their own power generation.
“They need some PR help because people think that if a data center goes up there, their electricity prices are going to go up,” Trump said.
Sanders said Wednesday that voters need more than just voluntary guarantees from tech companies.
“Artificial intelligence and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in human history. The scale, scope, and speed of this change is unprecedented. Congress is far behind where it needs to be in understanding the nature and impacts of this revolution,” he said in a statement before the bill’s formal introduction.
“The bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of Big Tech billionaires to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy, and the future of humanity,” Sanders said. “We need serious public debate and democratic oversight on this issue of enormous importance.” It’s time to act. “We need a federal moratorium on AI data centers.”
Most lawmakers from both parties have rejected the idea of a moratorium.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said he agreed with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s warning that the data center moratorium amounts to waving a “flag of surrender” to China. “I refuse to help hand the lead in AI to China,” Fetterman said Written on X.
The White House said last week that Congress should “preempt state AI laws.” The views are very exhaustingsetting a broad framework for how Congress can address concerns about artificial intelligence without limiting growth or innovation in the sector.
the Legislative plan Sets out six guidelines for legislators, focusing on the protection of children, Preventing high electricity costsRespecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship, and educating Americans about the use of technology.
Electricity consumption in the United States has reached Record number in 2024 It is expected to continue to rise as data centers continue to expand at a rapid pace. The typical AI-focused data center consumes As much as electricity Like 100,000 families.
Companies that have adhered to Trump’s pledge to protect taxpayers include Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI, and Amazon. The companies agreed to build or buy new sources of power generation for their data centers and cover the costs of modernizing the infrastructure.