The US is finding increasing resistance ahead of the construction of new data centers to feed AI, and New York has been the last state in joining it. Two Democratic legislators have presented a bill that would suspend the construction of new facilities in the state for three years, becoming the sixth territory to consider this type of measure in just a few weeks.
Why is this happening? The bipartisan rejection of data centers has spread like wildfire across the country. In December, Bernie Sanders became the first national politician to ask for a general moratoriumarguing that it was necessary to “ensure that the benefits of technology work for everyone, not just the 1%.” Now, from Florida to Vermont, lawmakers from both parties are pushing for temporary pauses.
According to Wired, more than 200 environmental organizations they signed a letter calling data center expansion “one of the biggest environmental and social threats of our generation.”
In detail. The proposal, introduced by state Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles, establishes a minimum three-year moratorium on issuing construction permits. During that period, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Public Utilities Commission would evaluate the impact of these infrastructures to suggest new regulations.
Just like share In the middle, the state currently has more than 130 data centers, and electricity demand linked to new projects has reached 10 gigawatts, triple what it was just a year ago. Among the developments underway is a 450-megawatt center built on a former coal plant.
Where else is it happening. Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont and Virginia have also introduced bills this year to temporarily pause data center development. Although Georgia, Vermont and Virginia are Democratic initiatives, in Oklahoma and Maryland they have been led by Republicans. According to share Wired, as of late December at least 14 states had cities or counties that had suspended building permits. And Virginia, with more than 60 related bills introduced this year, has become the legislative epicenter of this battle.
The hidden cost. data centers consume massive amounts of energy and waterand local communities fear an increase in your electric bills greater than what they have had to face until now. Just like account In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul last month launched an initiative to force data centers to “pay their fair share.” “I don’t think there are many people who want to have higher energy bills just so some chatbot can corrupt a 13-year-old boy online,” declared Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Resistance from below. Beyond the legislators, there is also citizen opposition that is pausing multimillion-dollar projects. According to Data Center Watch, between March and June 2025 they were delayed or canceled developments valued at 98 billion dollars. In Monterey Park, California, a six week campaign has achieved a 45-day moratorium and a commitment from the city council to explore a permanent ban.
Between the lines. What is happening in the United States with data centers is a reflection of the problem that the evolution of AI brings with it: that it is generating a physical infrastructure the costs of which the communities where it is installed are not willing to assume. Many companies promise jobs with their construction, but once operational they hardly require personnel. They promise fiscal investment, but they skyrocket energy consumption and pollute with noise and emissions.
A Morning Consult survey revealed that a majority of voters support banning the construction of data centers near where they live and believe they are partially responsible for rising electricity prices.
And now what. The industry has begun to react. Just like share Wired, Microsoft presented last month, with support from the White House, a series of commitments to be a “good neighbor” in the communities where it builds. Dan Diorio, vice president of state policy for the Data Center Coalition, assured the outlet that the industry “recognizes the importance of continued efforts to better educate and inform the public about the industry.”
The needs of Big Tech to advance their operations collide more than ever with public opinion, and it does not look like the gap is going to narrow anytime soon.
Cover image | Tim Mossholder and Kevin Ache
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