Rand Paul Blocks Ron Wyden's Bill On Regulations For Data Centers Built On Public Land
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon sought unanimous Senate approval for legislation regulating data centers built on federal public lands, citing risks to public lands, local power grids and scarce water supplies. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky objected, blocking the bill from advancing.
Sen. Ron Wyden said the Trump administration was considering developing federal public lands in Oregon and other western states for data centers. He argued that such facilities could place substantial demands on local electricity systems and water supplies, particularly amid drought conditions, and urged the Senate to prevent what he described as the effective privatization of public lands.
Wyden asked the Senate to immediately consider and pass S. 5658, but Sen. Rand Paul objected. Paul said local communities should retain the flexibility to decide whether data centers are appropriate and argued that a federal prohibition would improperly restrict areas where federal land is abundant. Wyden said he would continue seeking protections for public lands after the objection prevented the bill from moving forward.