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The former Trump ally joins a growing bipartisan push to pause the rapid expansion of the energy-hungry AI server hubs amid concerns about rising utility costs.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) departs a vote at the U.S. Capitol on March 25, 2026. | Francis Chung/POLITICO
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is the latest Republican to back a freeze on new data center construction in her state as politicians from both parties grapple with how to address growing community backlash against energy-guzzling artificial intelligence server hubs.
The member of Congress on Monday called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in South Carolina — an increasingly attractive destination for developers drawn to the state by tax incentives and vast tracts of rural land. At least 44 data centers are located in South Carolina by one estimate, including a multimillion-dollar Meta campus in Aiken County.
