7th District: Barrett pushes data center transparency, health care overhaul and limits on war
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett said data center siting decisions should remain under local control and that communities should be able to review projects before agreements are signed. He is supporting legislation addressing data center transparency and nondisclosure agreements, citing concerns about electricity costs, water use, noise and long-term facility impacts.
During an interview while campaigning in Potterville, U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett discussed legislation intended to increase transparency around data center projects and preserve state and local authority over their siting. He said townships, villages and cities should make development decisions and residents should be able to examine proposals before agreements are finalized.
Barrett said he does not support banning data centers or artificial intelligence development, but wants communities to consent to projects after considering electricity costs, water consumption, noise and the possibility that facilities could become obsolete. He introduced legislation on local authority over data center siting and co-sponsored the No Secrets for Data Centers Act, which would make certain nondisclosure agreements unenforceable.