Frank Pallone, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has proposed a national moratorium on data centers. He expressed his concerns about the potential negative impacts of these facilities on air quality, water supply, and energy costs during a committee event focused on regulating data centers' energy use. Pallone stated, "I am in favor of a national AI data center moratorium until we can find a way to ensure they don’t harm our nation’s air, water, and power bills."
Pallone's stance aligns him with other prominent figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who have also called for a halt on new data center developments while regulations for artificial intelligence are being established. Public opposition to data centers has been noted across various communities, with a Gallup poll indicating that 70% of respondents oppose the construction of AI data centers in their areas.
The energy demands of data centers have been rising significantly, with estimates suggesting a 133% increase in electricity consumption by 2030. During a recent energy subcommittee markup, Pallone emphasized the need for accountability among data center developers to prevent consumers from bearing the financial burden. One bill discussed, the Ratepayer Protection Act, aims to mitigate the impact of rising energy demands on household electricity costs by requiring state regulators to establish standards for large-load customers.
Tech companies, including Microsoft and Google, have shown support for the bipartisan legislation, which aligns with the White House's ratepayer protection pledge. The discussion around data centers has also included concerns from Republican members about maintaining a competitive edge in artificial intelligence against China.