Ro Khanna: This Is Why There Should Not Be 'Federal Moratorium' On AI Data Centers
Rep. Ro Khanna opposes a federal moratorium on AI data centers, advocating for state-by-state decisions with specific terms of engagement. He supports local control to prevent data centers from being forced into communities, especially residential or farmland areas. Khanna believes data centers could be beneficial in brownfield areas if they provide local jobs and schools without straining electricity or water resources.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) expressed his opposition to a federal moratorium on AI data center construction during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash. His stance contrasts with that of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, who have called for an immediate federal ban on all data center construction.
Khanna argued that decisions regarding data center development should be made at the state and local levels, emphasizing the importance of "terms of engagement." He stated his support for localized "pauses" in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, asserting that communities should not have data centers "shoved down their throats." He specifically endorsed bans on data center development in residential areas and on farmland.
However, Khanna acknowledged potential benefits if data centers are developed responsibly. He suggested that de-industrialized or brownfield areas could be suitable sites, provided such projects do not inflate electricity prices or overconsume local water resources. Furthermore, he stipulated that "hyperscalers" or data center developers should commit financially to create local jobs and support schools, ensuring the community receives benefits beyond just construction-related employment and avoiding a situation of mere "extraction" by large companies.