Sewell wants to stop new data centers until guardrails are implemented
Congresswoman Terri Sewell is co-sponsoring the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, which aims to pause new data center construction and expansion until federal guidelines are established. This initiative stems from concerns raised by her Alabama constituents about data centers' impact on water use, energy demands, and environmental resources. Sewell emphasizes the need for common-sense guardrails to ensure responsible innovation and community protection.
Congresswoman Terri Sewell has announced her support for the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, a Democratic-backed federal legislation designed to temporarily halt the construction and large-scale expansion of AI data centers across the nation. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and mirroring a similar Senate bill led by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., seeks to establish a federal framework to safeguard workers, communities, natural resources, and consumers.
Sewell, a Birmingham Democrat, stated that her constituents in Alabama have voiced significant concerns regarding the massive energy and water demands, environmental impacts, and infrastructure strain posed by data centers. While emphasizing that she is not against innovation, Sewell believes that implementing federal guardrails is crucial before further unchecked expansion. She highlighted that Alabama currently has 27 operating or planned data centers, according to Cleanview. The legislation faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Sewell's push for federal oversight comes as the Alabama Public Commission recently sought public input on future evaluations of data centers, indicating a growing statewide concern over managing this new infrastructure.