The political backlash against AI data centers has officially graduated from local grumbling to federal legislation. The AI Data Center Moratorium Act, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, would freeze construction of new AI data centers until regulators can establish guardrails around safety, energy costs, worker protections, and environmental impact.
Independent Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn put it plainly: “We’ve got to get this right.” His state offers a useful case study in why politicians are suddenly paying attention. Data centers now account for roughly 11.5% of Nebraska’s total state energy use, a figure that has residents watching their utility bills climb while aquifer water gets siphoned away.
A growing political coalition
The resistance isn’t confined to Capitol Hill. Texas Governor Greg Abbott paused new data center approvals in his state amid mounting public opposition. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro imposed stricter permitting rules.
Polling data reinforces what these politicians are sensing on the ground. Approximately 61% of Americans now oppose the construction of new data centers in their communities.
