Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill for National AI Data Center Construction Moratorium

US Senator Bernie Sanders is set to introduce groundbreaking legislation Wednesday proposing 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 plans to introduce companion legislation in the House in the coming weeks.

While the bill faces significant headwinds—particularly given the Trump administration's strong support for AI development and substantial industry lobbying efforts this year—the legislation represents a notable progressive position on addressing both data center proliferation concerns and potential AI-related risks.

"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 stated during a Tuesday evening address on Capitol Hill. "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."

Comprehensive Legislative Framework

The Sanders bill establishes an open-ended moratorium on construction or upgrades to data centers specifically used for artificial intelligence applications, defined through specific physical parameters including energy loads exceeding 20 megawatts. According to the legislation, the moratorium would remain in effect until comprehensive laws are enacted addressing multiple critical areas: preventing data centers from contributing to climate change, environmental harm, and increased electricity costs, while also ensuring tech companies don't produce products that harm "the health and well-being of working families, privacy and civil rights, and the future of humanity."

The bill additionally mandates that wealth generated from AI must be "shared with the people of the United States," and includes provisions prohibiting the export of computing hardware, including semiconductor chips, to countries lacking similar regulatory frameworks.

The legislation specifically references prominent tech executives—including xAI's Elon Musk, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Anthropic's Dario Amodei—who have both significantly benefited from AI development and expressed concerns about the technology's rapid societal transformation potential.

Rising Public Opposition to Data Center Development

The accelerated push for nationwide data center construction has generated substantial opposition due to concerns about increased electricity costs, water consumption, energy impacts, and land use issues. Recent Pew Research polling indicates that nearly 40 percent of Americans view data centers negatively regarding environmental impact and home energy costs, while 30 percent report negative effects on quality of life for nearby residents.

Public resistance to data center development and associated energy cost increases has influenced electoral outcomes in states including Virginia and Georgia, where data center development has rapidly expanded. A 2025 report documented $98 billion in data center projects that were delayed or canceled due to community opposition during the second quarter alone.

Growing Movement for Regulatory Action

In December, Sanders became the first national political figure to advocate for a data center moratorium, following a letter from over 230 progressive organizations to Congress calling for similar action. The coalition argued that the "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."

Dozens of cities and counties nationwide have implemented local data center development moratoriums in response to community concerns. At least twelve state legislatures—in Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming—have introduced state-level moratorium legislation this year.

Expanded Focus on AI Safety

Sanders's proposed legislation represents a significant evolution from many existing measures by addressing not only environmental and community impacts but comprehensive AI safety concerns. Since his December announcement, Sanders has increasingly emphasized the potential societal risks posed by artificial intelligence, particularly regarding workforce displacement and economic inequality.