Bernie Sanders and AOC propose ban on data center construction until AI regulations pass

Bernie Sanders and AOC propose a ban on data center construction | TechCrunch

The explosion of new data center projects in the US has led to a growing backlash against the infrastructure that powers AI. Two influential politicians are now proposing a ban on any new data centers with peak power loads in excess of 20 megawatts. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are introducing companion legislation in their respective chambers today that would halt the projects until Congress enacts comprehensive AI regulation. Sanders' office points to remarks from a variety of tech luminaries who have discussed their fears of AI and called for stricter rules or pauses on development. These include Elon Musk (who has said "AI is far more dangerous than nukes. So why do we have no regulatory oversight?"), Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Nobel Prize-winner Geoffrey Hinton. A March Pew Research poll found that a majority of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, with just 10% of those surveyed saying their excitement outweighed their concern. However, massive political spending by AI companies and fears of losing an AI arms race with China may make such legislation difficult to enact. This bill might be seen as an opening bid for what AI regulation should look like. The two lawmakers want the US government to review and certify models ahead of their release, enact protections against AI-driven job displacement, limit the environmental impact of data infrastructure, and require union labor in its construction. They also seek to prohibit the export of advanced chips to countries without similar rules -- which, at this point, is most of them.

New Bernie Sanders AI Safety Bill Would Halt Data Center Construction

US Senator Bernie Sanders will introduce a bill Wednesday that aims to put a national moratorium on data center construction "until legislation is enacted that safeguards the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce a similar bill in the House in the coming weeks. While it's highly unlikely that the bill will pass -- especially given the Trump administration's full-throated endorsement of AI, and the massive amount of money the industry is set to spend this year in Washington -- the bill marks a new line in the sand for progressives seeking to address both concern around data center construction and the potential harms artificial intelligence may bring. "A moratorium will give us the chance to figure out how to make sure that AI benefits the working families of this country, not just a handful of billionaires who want more and more wealth and more and more power," Sanders said in a speech on the Hill Tuesday evening. "A moratorium will give us the time to figure out how to ensure that AI is safe and effective and prevent the worst outcomes. A moratorium will give us the time to figure out how to make sure AI does not harm our environment or jack up the electric bills that we pay." Sanders's bill puts an open-ended moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new and existing data centers used specifically for artificial intelligence -- defined in the bill via a series of physical parameters, including energy load above 20 megawatts. The moratorium, the bill states, will end only when laws are enacted that not only prevent data centers from contributing to climate change, harming the environment, and raising electricity bills, but also prevent tech companies from producing products that displace harm the "health and well-being of working families, privacy and civil rights, and the future of humanity." Tech companies, the bill states, must ensure that wealth generated from AI is "shared with the people of the United States." (A separate section forbids the export of computing hardware, including semiconductor chips, to any country that does not have similar laws.) The bill name-checks wealthy tech executives, including xAI's Elon Musk, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, who have both profited greatly from artificial intelligence and sounded alarms at just how quickly the technology could change society. The urgent push to build out data centers across the US has ignited a wave of opposition over concerns about higher electric bills, water use, energy impacts, and land rights. Recent polling from Pew shows that nearly 40 percent of Americans believe that data centers are bad for the environment and home energy costs, while 30 percent say that they have a negative impact on quality of life for people living nearby. Public opposition to data centers, and the high energy bills they could cause, has played a role in elections in states like Virginia and Georgia, where data center development has accelerated in recent years. Last year, a report found that $98 billion in data center projects had been stalled or canceled due to community pushback in the second quarter of 2025 alone. In December, Sanders became the first national politician to call for a moratorium on data centers, days after a coalition of more than 230 progressive groups sent a letter to Congress calling for a national moratorium. The letter claimed that "rapid, largely unregulated rise of data centers to fuel the AI and crypto frenzy is disrupting communities across the country and threatening Americans' economic, environmental, climate and water security."

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez introduce a bill to pause US data center construction

File this one under "things that might have a shot after the midterms." On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act. The bill would require an immediate pause on data center construction until specific new regulations are passed. The legislation aims to address the problem that AI is advancing faster than Washington's regulatory response (basically none) has kept pace. Despite its benefits, the technology poses grave threats to the job market and the environment. Rapidly advancing deepfakes could soon leave people unable to determine truth from fiction. (That is, more than online propaganda already has.) AI also makes mass surveillance easier than ever, potentially giving unelected tech leaders unfettered control over society. "Last year alone, AI was responsible for over 54,000 layoffs nationwide," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said in a press conference. "And when we talk about those jobs, it's not just a number. These are industries. These are communities. These are families... All of this harm has occurred not in spite of, but because of, the absence of federal legislation to regulate AI." The bill would mandate not only an immediate pause on new data center construction but also on the upgrading of existing ones. This moratorium would only be lifted after one or more laws were passed to provide federal oversight of AI products. First, AI products would need to be proven safe for humanity. (That includes not just physical safety, but also areas like civil rights, privacy and public health.) The wealth AI generates would need to be shared with the American people, not just the billionaire tech bros pulling the strings. Protections would need to be in place to safeguard against mass unemployment. (Increasingly, companies are flat-out admitting that their layoffs are due to AI automation.) The legislation would also require future data centers to be environmentally safe. They would need to avoid increasing electricity or other utility bills for Americans. AI data centers would have to create union jobs "with strong labor standards." Communities affected by them would be empowered to approve or reject their construction or upgrades. And no government subsidies could be provided for them. "A moratorium will give us time," Sen. Sanders said. "Time to understand the risks. Time to protect working families. Time to defend our democracy. And time to ensure that technology works for all of us, not just the few." On the one hand, these could be popular proposals. In a December poll, 60 percent of Americans -- including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents -- said they supported more AI regulation. However, in Washington's current environment, well, don't get your hopes up. AI companies are pouring enormous sums of money into campaigns for both political parties. The industry spent at least $83 million in federal elections last year -- and that was an off-year without national elections. And of course, anti-regulatory Republicans currently control the presidency, both chambers of Congress and (essentially) the Supreme Court. So, fat chance it goes anywhere right now. But depending on how the 2026 midterms (and beyond) shake out... who knows? One can dream, anyway.

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez push bill to impose AI data center moratorium

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two high-profile progressive lawmakers are introducing a bill Wednesday that would pause new data centers in the United States until national safeguards are in place to protect workers and consumers and ensure the technologies don't harm the environment. The legislation by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is unlikely to advance in either the House or Senate, but it shows the deep concerns many progressives share about the growing impact of data centers and artificial intelligence. Communities across the country have seen a backlash against data centers over fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about pollution and water consumption. Opposition to rising power prices was also a key factor in Democratic wins last year in elections in states including Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey. Although advances in artificial intelligence are seen by President Donald Trump and other leaders as critical to the nation's economic and national security, their growing energy needs are threatening to overwhelm the power grid. Trump has sought to deflect public concerns about AI, inviting major technology 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 in there, electricity prices are going to go up," Trump said. Voters need more than voluntary assurances from tech companies, Sanders said Wednesday. "AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity. The scale, scope and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts," he said in a statement ahead of the bill's formal introduction. "Bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs 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 over this enormously consequential issue. The time for action is now. We need a federal moratorium on AI data centers." Most lawmakers of 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 a moratorium on data centers amounts to waving a "surrender flag" to China. "I refuse to help hand the lead in AI to China," Fetterman wrote on X. The White House said last week that Congress should "preempt state AI laws" that it views as too burdensome, laying out a broad framework for how it wants Congress to address concerns about AI without curbing growth or innovation in the sector. The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology. U.S. electricity consumption hit a record high in 2024 and is expected to keep rising as data centers continue to expand at a rapid pace. A typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households. Companies that committed to Trump's pledge to protect ratepayers 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 expense of infrastructure upgrades.

Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Pause AI Data Center Construction, Warns of 'Cataclysmic Changes'

The progressive lawmaker is introducing a bill calling for a national moratorium on data center construction until new AI regulations are enacted. As tech companies race to build new data centers across the country, Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to pump the brakes. Sanders announced on Wednesday that he is introducing a bill in the Senate that would impose a national moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new AI data center projects until Congress passes AI legislation that "ensures the safety and prosperity of the American people.†Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is expected to introduce a companion bill in the House in the coming weeks. “AI and robotics are going to bring cataclysmic changes to our society. Sadly, Congress has done virtually nothing,†Sanders wrote in a post on X today. “AI must work for working families, not the billionaires.†The proposal comes as nearly every major tech company, including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, is pouring billions into building out the infrastructure needed to train and run their competing AI models. Collectively, these companies are expected to spend at least $700 billion this year on AI infrastructure and development, according to CNBC. At the same time, some of the communities where these projects are planned are already pushing back. Last year, Microsoft and Google withdrew a proposed data center project following local opposition tied to concerns about energy use, water consumption, and strain on power grids. Many local governments are also already exploring temporary restrictions on new data center development. Those concerns are central to Sanders’s bill. The legislation defines an AI data center as a facility used to develop or operate AI models at scale, or one with a peak power load exceeding 20 megawatts that relies on high-performance server racks or liquid cooling systems. Under the proposal, the moratorium would remain in place until Congress passes laws that meet a set of conditions. Those include requiring government review and approval of AI systems before their release, ensuring that data centers do not raise electricity prices or worsen climate change, and putting policies in place to prevent job displacement. The bill also calls for the economic gains from AI to be shared with the American people. The chances of a proposal like this becoming law appear pretty slim under the current administration. President Donald Trump, who tech CEOs have spent the past year cozying up to, signed an executive order in December limiting what his administration described as overly burdensome state-level AI regulations in the name of national and economic security. Rep. Cortez addressed a question about whether slowing down AI projects could give China an advantage during a press conference for the legislation today. “Once these companies can be on the up and up, providing their own energy, building out and investing in the infrastructure, refusing to free ride off of the American people, then we can continue to develop and explore this technology,†Cortez said. “I don’t think that this is about a denialism of science or American competitiveness.†On the same day Sanders unveiled his bill, Trump also named several major tech leaders, such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, to his new Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Still, it looks like Sanders won't be backing down anytime soon. While he doesn’t always get the details right, Sanders is among the few national lawmakers consistently raising alarms about the impacts of AI. That's a bit shocking when you consider the fact that a recent NBC poll found that AI is less popular than ICE, and a separate poll recently found that voters say AI is a more important election issue than guns, climate change, child care, gas prices, and abortion. He also isn't afraid to challenge wealthy tech leaders. During the press conference with Rep. Cortez, Sanders quoted remarks made by Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Microsoft CEO Mustafa Suleyman about how AI would replace most jobs. And earlier this week, Sanders called on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to testify before Congress over reports that he is seeking to raise $100 billion for a fund aimed at acquiring manufacturing companies and using AI to accelerate automation.

'Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts': New bill from Bernie Sanders and AOC wants to try and pause US data center construction

* Bernie Sanders is warning AI could destroy humans, or worse still, the planet * This moratorium would prevent any future data center buildouts or expansions * Most tech leaders have warned of job losses or other impacts US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) (D-NY) have shared details of the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act (2026), which argues data center construction across the country should be paused for both new sites and upgrades. The purpose of the bill is to allow the US government oversight of AI to catch up by slowing down development, preventing Big Tech from influencing society, the economy or democracy. Sanders and AOC worry mass AI rollouts have already led to job losses, citing plenty of other concerns, thus the pause on data centers would allow the US to regulate the technology more carefully before it gets out of hand. Bernie Sanders wants to slow down data centers to protect US citizens AI has already been linked to layoffs, with the two warning of mass unemployment, but they also cite concerns over surveillance and mass monitoring, deepfakes, misinformation and the environment impacts associated with high water and electricity usage. A summary notice details how many of the world's richest and/or most influential people have already acknowledged some of the above concerns, including Microsoft's Bill Gates, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Tesla's Elon Musk, Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, Microsoft AI's Mustafa Suleyman, Ford's Jim Farley, Oracle's Larry Ellison and more. The moratorium would both ban new AI data center construction and upgrades to existing facilities, until certain conditions are met which would lift the ban. Those conditions focus on privacy, civil rights, the economy, the environment and communities. "This bill will stop a global race to see which country is the first to eliminate hundreds of millions of jobs, or the first to build an AI that destroys the planet," the two summarize. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters

Lawmakers say moratorium on construction would buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AI Amid an unprecedented energy crisis and the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, progressive lawmakers have unveiled a new policy to place a moratorium on the construction of AI datacenters. The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is "affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids' education". "AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity," Sanders said in an emailed statement. "The scale, scope, and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts." The bill's official introduction comes as calls to halt AI datacenter expansion have gone from the margins to the mainstream. Since August 2025, towns and counties across the country - including in Missouri, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina - have passed temporary bans on datacenter buildout. At least 11 states are now considering similar policies, according to Good Jobs First, a watchdog group tracking economic development. In December, more than 200 advocacy groups led by the national environmental organization Food and Water Watch also sent House and Senate leaders a letter calling for a federal datacenter moratorium, citing concerns about the sector's impacts on electricity bills and the climate crisis. Sanders became the first lawmaker to back their demand and it has since gained steam with progressive lawmakers such as Maxwell Frost, a Florida representative, and Pramila Jayapal, a Washington representative. "A few months ago, when I proposed a moratorium on AI datacenters, it was perceived as a radical, fringe and Luddite idea," Sanders wrote in a February statement. "Well, not anymore." Survey data shows Americans are increasingly worried about AI's many impacts. A June 2025 poll found that half of US adults are more concerned than excited about its increasing use in daily life, while a December 2025 poll found 60% of Americans believe the sector should be better regulated to limit its potential negative effects on society. Voters are also troubled about the effect of datacenters on increased utility costs and energy consumption, data shows. When a February poll asked participants to select the more concerning issue in randomized contests against datacenter-related issues, they selected utility costs 64% of the time and energy consumption 59% of the time. Datacenters' need for massive quantities of water to cool down equipment has also sparked controversy, especially in drought-ridden areas. So have the facilities' climate effects. Though AI proponents claim the sector can help to lower emissions, an October report from green group Center for Biological Diversity estimates that if current trends continue, datacenters may account for nearly half of all US emissions from the power sector that current national climate targets allow. Datacenters' electricity demand is also spiking electricity prices in some areas. One Bloomberg analysis found that some regions with especially high concentrations of datacenters have already seen power costs surge by 267% over the past five years. Amid increasing worry about these costs, the Trump administration this month hosted tech executives at the White House to "pledge" that their companies will shield Americans from utility rate hikes tied to their datacenters' growing energy demand. Critics say the pledges are unenforceable, and most Americans are skeptical of them, a March poll shows. "We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity, said Sanders in his emailed statement. "We need serious public debate and democratic oversight over this enormously consequential issue. The time for action is now." The Vermont senator also spoke about the need for AI safeguards on the Senate floor on Tuesday night. "These multi billionaires are investing in AI and robotics because those investments will increase their wealth and power exponentially," he said. Mitch Jones, managing director of policy and litigation at Food and Water Watch, applauded the new proposal. "We need a halt to the explosive growth of new AI datacenter construction now, because political and community leaders across the country have been caught completely off guard by this aggressive, profit-hungry industry," he said. "It has yet to be determined if - not how - the industry can ever operate in a manner that sufficiently protects people and society from the profusion of inherent hazards and harms that datacenters bring wherever they appear."

Sanders and AOC unveil data center moratorium bill

Why it matters: Sanders and AOC are staking out one of the most aggressive AI policy positions yet this Congress, colliding with the industry's rapid expansion. Driving the news: The bill would impose a national moratorium on new AI data center construction until "strong national safeguards" are in place, per a press release. * Under the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, the ban on new construction could only be lifted after the passage of federal AI legislation that would establish protections for workers and consumers, prevent harm to the environment and defend civil rights, the release states. * Sanders previously previewed the legislation ahead of a trip to California earlier this year where he met with AI company executives. Between the lines: Data center projects could be potentially on hold for years under the Sanders-AOC bill, as Congress is far from passing any AI legislation, let alone anything the two Democrats would consider "strong." * Politicians on both sides of the aisle will say they want to protect workers and families, but sharp disagreements on how to do that persist within and across both parties. * Those disagreements are coming into clear view now the White House has handed over its own vision for AI regulation to Congress. What we're watching: AI's massive energy demands are scrambling party lines, and efforts to halt construction could be an attractive political message on both sides of the aisle ahead of the midterms.

Bernie Sanders and AOC launch bill to ban new data-center construction | Fortune

The legislation by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is unlikely to advance in either the House or Senate, but it shows the deep concerns many progressives share about the growing impact of data centers and artificial intelligence. Communities across the country have seen a backlash against data centers over fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about pollution and water consumption. Opposition to rising power prices was also a key factor in Democratic wins last year in elections in states including Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey. Although advances in artificial intelligence are seen by President Donald Trump and other leaders as critical to the nation's economic and national security, their growing energy needs are threatening to overwhelm the power grid. Trump has sought to deflect public concerns about AI, inviting major technology 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 in there, electricity prices are going to go up," Trump said. Voters need more than voluntary assurances from tech companies, Sanders said Wednesday. "AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity. The scale, scope and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts," he said in a statement ahead of the bill's formal introduction. "Bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs 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 over this enormously consequential issue. The time for action is now. We need a federal moratorium on AI data centers." Most lawmakers of 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 a moratorium on data centers amounts to waving a "surrender flag" to China. "I refuse to help hand the lead in AI to China," Fetterman wrote on X. The White House said last week that Congress should "preempt state AI laws" that it views as too burdensome, laying out a broad framework for how it wants Congress to address concerns about AI without curbing growth or innovation in the sector. The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology. U.S. electricity consumption hit a record high in 2024 and is expected to keep rising as data centers continue to expand at a rapid pace. A typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households.

Senator Bernie Sanders announces bill to pause US data center construction: 'AI and robotics will impact our economy, our democracy, our privacy rights... even our very survival as human beings on this planet'

US senator Bernie Sanders has announced a new bill calling for a pause on the construction of new data centers in the United States, alongside Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The AI Data Center Moratorium Act aims to buy time for US lawmakers to put into place regulations around AI and AI data center expansion, taking into account the environmental, utility, and potential workforce impacts of the technology, among others (via The Guardian). The bill would go into effect immediately if passed. "In my view, and in the view of people who know a lot more about this issue than I do, we are at the beginning of the most profound technological revolution in world history", said Sanders. "Artificial intelligence and robotics will impact our economy, our democracy, our privacy rights, our emotional well being, our environment, and even our very survival as human beings on this planet. "AI has received far too little serious discussion here in our nation's capital", Sanders continued. "I fear that Congress is totally unprepared for the magnitude of the changes that are already taking place" A key part of Sander's argument is related to the spread of misinformation, alongside the climate-related impacts: "If people cannot trust what they see and hear, informed decision making becomes nearly possible. It will become harder and harder to distinguish between truth and untruth", the senator said. "There is also... a significant environmental cost. AI requires enormous computing power, driving the expansion of energy and water intensive data centers, increasing electricity demand and potentially deepening reliance on fossil fuels in the midst of a climate crisis. "Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and I understand what is at stake", the senator continued. "That is why today, we are announcing legislation to impose a moratorium on the construction of new AI data centers until strong national safeguards are in place to ensure that AI is safe and effective. "That means the government reviews and approves AI products before they are released. Further that the economic gains of AI robotics will benefit ordinary Americans and not just the billionaire owners of the industry. Further that AI data centers do not increase electricity or utility prices, harm communities, or destroy the environment." The bill would also impose a ban on the export of AI computing hardware to countries without similar protections, including China. Senator Sanders, an independent, looks to have been laying the groundwork for such a bill for some time. Over the weekend, the senator posted a video of himself debating the issue with Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot, in which the bot agreed with his overall proposition. And in February of this year, Sanders released a statement defining some of the principles that have now appeared in his latest proposal. "Let's be clear", Sanders wrote. "AI will likely have a catastrophic impact on the lives of working-class Americans, eliminating tens of millions of blue- and white-collar jobs in every sector of our economy. "Bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity. We need serious public debate and democratic oversight over this enormously consequential issue." The rapid expansion of US data center infrastructure as a result of the AI boom has been a concern for many for some time. Communities have raised complaints over the environmental impact of facilities like xAI's Colossus supercomputer in South Memphis and its methane-burning gas turbines, while multiple states have proposed similar data center moratoriums over related concerns. Meta, meanwhile, has been proposing the construction of gigantic hyperscalers the size of Manhattan, and sticking server racks in tents outside its existing facilities in order to keep up with AI demand. Microsoft has also begun a projected $80 billion AI data center expansion program, while Google is busy spending up to $185 billion on a variety of new facilities, including two new data centers in Texas and Minnesota. And that's all without mentioning the $500 billion Stargate project, an OpenAI-led joint venture which aims to build 10 GW of US-based, AI-crunching infrastructure by 2029. Despite being in the works for some time, Stargate was officially announced by US president Donald Trump in January of this year -- and therein lies a problem for senator Sander's bill. The current US government is massively pro AI and AI infrastructure investment, and the bill would have to pass both the US House and Senate in order to be brought into effect. Both currently hold a Republican majority, although midterm elections are due to take place this November. In the meantime, then, Sanders efforts have a long way to go if they're ever to take effect. The AI titan looks to be rumbling ever onwards, and while the good intentions here are clear, it remains to be seen if this new bill stands a snowball's chance in hell of putting on the brakes.

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez Push Bill to Impose AI Data Center Moratorium

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two high-profile progressive lawmakers are introducing a bill Wednesday that would pause new data centers in the United States until national safeguards are in place to protect workers and consumers and ensure the technologies don't harm the environment. The legislation by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is unlikely to advance in either the House or Senate, but it shows the deep concerns many progressives share about the growing impact of data centers and artificial intelligence. Communities across the country have seen a backlash against data centers over fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about pollution and water consumption. Opposition to rising power prices was also a key factor in Democratic wins last year in elections in states including Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey. Although advances in artificial intelligence are seen by President Donald Trump and other leaders as critical to the nation's economic and national security, their growing energy needs are threatening to overwhelm the power grid. Trump has sought to deflect public concerns about AI, inviting major technology 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 in there, electricity prices are going to go up," Trump said. Voters need more than voluntary assurances from tech companies, Sanders said Wednesday. "AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity. The scale, scope and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts," he said in a statement ahead of the bill's formal introduction. "Bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs 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 over this enormously consequential issue. The time for action is now. We need a federal moratorium on AI data centers." Most lawmakers of 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 a moratorium on data centers amounts to waving a "surrender flag" to China. "I refuse to help hand the lead in AI to China," Fetterman wrote on X. The White House said last week that Congress should "preempt state AI laws" that it views as too burdensome, laying out a broad framework for how it wants Congress to address concerns about AI without curbing growth or innovation in the sector. The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology. U.S. electricity consumption hit a record high in 2024 and is expected to keep rising as data centers continue to expand at a rapid pace. A typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households. Companies that committed to Trump's pledge to protect ratepayers 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 expense of infrastructure upgrades.

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez unveil bill to halt data center construction

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) plan to introduce legislation that would bar construction of all new data centers until "strong national safeguards are in place." The pair announced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act on Wednesday, which aims to halt construction of AI infrastructure until lawmakers enact measures requiring government reviews of AI products, preventing mass job displacement and limiting increases in consumer electricity prices. "A moratorium will give us time -- time to understand the risks, time to protect working families, time to defend our democracy and time to ensure that this technology works for all of us, not just the few," Sanders said at a press conference. Sanders first voiced support for a moratorium in December. Similar efforts have emerged at the state level, as data center construction has increasingly faced resistance in local communities amid concerns about rising electricity prices and environmental impacts. Ocasio-Cortez, who is joining Sanders on the bill, also underscored growing concerns about how AI can used to expand the capabilities of mass surveillance. "All of this harm has occurred, not in spite of, but because of the absence of federal legislation to regulate AI," she said Wednesday. "This is not my first bill around AI, and I can tell you that it is extremely discouraging to see how even the most minute efforts to protect people at some of the smallest and most basic level, like trying to prevent AI-generated child pornography, is still combated." However, Cy McNeill, senior director of federal affairs at the Data Center Coalition, argued that data centers "power modern life," suggesting that "this infrastructure is not optional; it is foundational." "A federal mandate to halt data center construction risks rationing access to digital services, impairs our global competitiveness, and will have substantial impacts on Americans' daily lives," he added in a statement.

Sanders, AOC Set To Introduce Data Center Moratorium Bill

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are set to introduce legislation on Wednesday barring the construction of the data centers powering the artificial intelligence boom until certain conditions are met. The pair are expected to unveil the details of the proposal during a Capitol Hill press conference at 4 p.m., though a press release previewing the legislation says it will "impose a moratorium on the construction of all new AI data centers until strong national safeguards are in place to protect workers, consumers and communities, defend privacy and civil rights and ensure these technologies do not harm our environment." The proposal is likely to become a benchmark for how the Democratic Party's left wing approaches the artificial intelligence boom. Sanders has taken a particular interest in the issue and traveled to California last month to meet with AI industry leaders.

Bernie Sanders and AOC Want to Pump the Brakes on AI Development

What the Anthropic Lawsuit Means for the Future of AI in Warfare Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are announcing their support for two new AI bills aimed at putting a federal moratorium on the constructions of data centers. Sanders is introducing his bill, the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, on Wednesday. "AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts," Sanders says in a statement to Rolling Stone. "We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity. We need serious public debate and democratic oversight over this enormously consequential issue." The legislation aims to slow down the development of AI, and to give Congress a chance to catch up with proper regulation. Sanders is calling for an immediate federal moratorium on AI data centers until national safeguards are in place to ensure that AI is safe and effective and won't harm "health, privacy, civil rights and the future of humanity." The bill also calls for regulation to ensure that the economic gains of AI will benefit workers "not just the wealthy owners of Big Tech," as well as laws to protect the environment and prevent increased electricity prices for communities. On Tuesday night, Sanders spoke on the Senate floor for half an hour about AI risks, impacts, and the oligarchs running tech companies. At one point he brought up the impact AI has on the environment, and addressed how AI requires large data centers which require a massive amount of electricity and water. "For example, Meta is building a data center in Louisiana, the size of Manhattan, that will use as much electricity as 1.6 million homes," said Sanders. He stood in front of a sign stating that wholesale electricity costs have increased up to 267 percent in areas near data centers in the last five years. "This increased demand will drive a massive expansion of fossil fuels when we are already seeing the devastating impacts of the global crisis of climate change." As Rolling Stone reported in November, an Amazon data center in Oregon worsened a water pollution problem in the state that's been linked to cancer and miscarriages. Nearly 3,000 data centers are under construction or planned across the U.S., with 4,000 already in operation. Sanders told CNN's State of the Union in December, "Frankly, I think you have got to slow this process down." "If there are no jobs and humans won't be needed for most things, how do people get an income to feed their families, to get healthcare or to pay the rent?" said Sanders. "There's not been one serious word of discussion in the Congress about that reality." Ocasio-Cortez has been vocal about the harms of AI as well, continuing to fight for passage of her DEFIANCE Act, which provides civilian recourse for survivors of deepfake AI abuse. Similar to how the data center moratorium bill is structured, DEFIANCE was introduced in both the Senate and the House as a bicameral bill. It has passed the senate but has yet to pass the house. On Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m., Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are set to talk about the legislation, which Sanders will take the lead on sponsoring in the Senate. Ocasio-Cortez will follow-up Sanders'Senate bill with a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

Bernie Sanders, AOC Want Data Centers Banned -- But A Kentucky Family's 'No' To $26 Million Was Louder - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

The growth of artificial intelligence has led to the need for more data centers across the U.S. With limited land and resources, the battle for more data centers could be full steam ahead. Two prominent elected officials look to ban data center construction as homeowners fight back against selling land to technology companies. * Microsoft stock is trading near recent lows. What's the outlook for MSFT shares? Bernie Sanders, AOC Take On Data Centers In a battle to stop new data centers from being built in the U.S., Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act on Wednesday. The legislation would stop new projects that have a power of 20 megawatts or more from being built until Congress puts in place AI regulation, as reported by TechCrunch. Sanders and AOC argue that stricter rules are needed to regulate AI. Sanders' office telling TechCrunch that key figures such as Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Nobel Prize-winner Geoffrey Hinton, considered the godfather of AI by many, have all publicly stated fears they have of AI. "So why do we have no regulatory oversight," Sanders' office asked. Among the callouts from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez that are needed for the AI sector are AI model certification, protections against job displacement from AI, lowering the environmental impact from data centers and making union labor for data center constructions a must. The legislation also calls for an export ban on advanced chips to countries that don't have AI regulation rules. "These companies are now so desperate to profit off of the AI boom that they are racing to construct thousands of giant AI data centers and jacking up the utility costs of everyday Americans pay for it," Ocasio-Cortez said at a public event for the legislation on Wednesday. The congresswoman said data centers require the same amount of energy as needed to power 100,000 households. "Energy bills around the country are skyrocketing in order to pay for these AI data centers for them." Ocasio-Cortez said consumers who live near data centers have utility bills that have gone up 267% monthly. Landowners Fight Back Against Data Centers While Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez look to get support from Congress members in the fight for AI regulation and put restrictions on new data centers, one Kentucky woman took things into her own hands. Ida Huddleston has owned a family farm for years that includes around 1,200 acres near Maysville, Kentucky, a small town of around 9,000 people, as reported by TechCrunch. The 82-year-old told a local news station that she turned down a $26 million offer from an unnamed "artificial intelligence company" for a portion of the family's land. Huddleston and her family said no, knowing that a data center could mean disruption to the area. "They call us old stupid farmers, you know, but we're not," Huddleston told Local 12 WKRC. "We know whenever our food is disappearing, our lands are disappearing, and we don't have any water -- and that poison. Well, we know we've had it." The comments from Huddleston come as reports say data centers lead to more energy consumption and water usage for the area, which can impact utility costs for local residents. Huddleston also said a new data center won't help the economic growth of the region as data centers don't bring job creation with them. "It's a scam." The unnamed company has revised plans to rezone more than 2,000 acres in Kentucky, according to the news report. While the company didn't get land from Huddleston, it may have acquired land nearby to accomplish its goal. While Huddleston and others refused to sell, the high offers above the potential land value may have been too much for some to turn down. More public awareness about data center plans could make it harder for tech giants to buy up large amounts of land in the future. Photo Courtesy: Crush Rush on Shutterstock.com Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.