More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters

More than 230 environmental groups have demanded a national moratorium on new data centers in the U.S., citing their energy-intensive nature and impact on electricity bills and the climate. The groups, including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, have urged Congress to halt the rapid growth of data centers, primarily driven by the AI and cryptocurrency industries. This push comes amid growing local opposition to new data center projects, which have been blamed for rising power costs and water scarcity in some regions. The issue of affordable electricity has become a significant political concern, helping Democrats win recent elections by campaigning on lowering energy bills. The controversy threatens to complicate the agenda of former President Trump, who has promoted the growth of AI but also vowed to cut energy costs. Experts note the causes of rising electricity prices are nuanced, but the expansion of energy-hungry data centers is a major factor fueling public resentment.