Ro Khanna says data centers should not be built ‘without any say’ from local residents
Rep. Ro Khanna, a US Congressman, is advocating for a national "data center bill of rights" to regulate data center development. He proposes restricting them from residential and farmland areas, placing them instead on "brownfield" sites, and giving local communities a say to address environmental and electricity cost concerns, citing Pennsylvania as an example of unchecked growth. He also suggests a pause on new developments to implement these changes.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) appeared on "Meet the Press" to discuss the growing opposition to data center development across the United States. Citing concerns about environmental impact and enormous energy costs, Khanna emphasized the need for regulation, proposing a "data center bill of rights."
He suggested that data centers should not be built in residential communities or on farmland, advocating instead for their placement on "brownfield" or deindustrialized land. Khanna stated that local communities should have a say in whether data centers are developed and criticized the practice of "jacking up electricity prices."
Khanna referenced states like Pennsylvania, where he noted a concentration of "six data centers in Plymouth," as an example of areas experiencing unchecked data center expansion. He argued that even technology leaders understand the necessity of a "pause to get this right" and ensure proper planning and community involvement.