March 31, 2026

Progressive lawmakers in Congress are advocating for new legislation to regulate data center construction, citing growing environmental concerns associated with the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. This legislative push reflects a broader movement to address the environmental footprint of the tech industry, particularly regarding energy and resource consumption. The issue is gaining traction across political divides, with local jurisdictions independently taking action. Kootenai County, Idaho, a majority-Republican area, implemented a moratorium on data center development last year due to worries over water usage and aquifer protection. Following this trend, Logan and Larimer counties in Colorado have also enacted similar moratoriums, and the city of Denver is now evaluating the possibility of introducing its own regulations to curb data center growth.