Rep. Sewell cosponsors Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell has cosponsored the federal Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, which aims to pause AI data center construction until federal regulations for AI models and worker benefits are established. Her decision is influenced by growing community opposition in Alabama to proposed data center projects and concerns about their environmental, water, and economic impacts. The article highlights statewide and national discussions around data center development and regulation.
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-Alabama) announced her decision to cosponsor the federal Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, a bill introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). The proposed legislation seeks to halt the construction of AI data centers until the federal government implements approval requirements for new AI models and ensures workers share in the economic benefits of AI.
Sewell stated that Alabamians are concerned about the rapid expansion of AI data centers, many of which are proposed in underserved communities. She raised questions about their impact on water resources, the environment, and property values, emphasizing the need for protections for citizens and natural resources. Her decision comes amidst active community opposition to proposed data center projects in Alabama, specifically mentioning Bessemer, Birmingham, and Fairfield. A recent Gallup poll found that approximately 70 percent of Americans oppose data center construction in their areas.
The issue has also entered political discourse in Alabama, with Senator Tommy Tuberville supporting data centers for tax revenue, while former Senator Doug Jones advocates for implementing "guardrails" around such projects. Alabama Public Service Commission candidate Sheila McNeil has called for closer scrutiny of data center projects, particularly regarding their effects on local energy prices. The Alabama Legislature previously passed a law, signed by Governor Kay Ivey, that limits tax abatements for data center projects.
While the federal bill has limited support and is unlikely to pass in its current form, Sewell's cosponsorship indicates a strategic move by her and other Alabama Democrats to gain support from AI and data center skeptics in future elections. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently enacted the nation's first statewide data center moratorium, citing the need for a transparent regulatory environment.