Bernie Sanders and Ron DeSantis speak out against data center boom. It's a bad sign for AI industry

Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and right-wing Gov. Ron DeSantis have emerged as leading skeptics of the AI industry's data center boom, signaling a potential political reckoning over its impact on electricity prices, grid stability and the labor market. Sanders has called for a national moratorium on data center construction, while DeSantis unveiled an AI bill of rights that would protect local communities' right to block data center projects. The opposition from these two national figures on the left and right could slow the industry's development plans if it reaches a broad bipartisan consensus. The power shortage is most acute on the PJM Interconnection grid, where data center demand is pushing the system to a tipping point, raising the likelihood of more frequent blackouts. This has led to calls for the grid to reject data centers it cannot serve or require them to bring their own generation, and for data center developers to start building more onsite power plants. The impact of data centers on local communities is expected to play a role in the mid-term elections next year as the cost of living remains a central issue in American politics.