Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters

Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters Lawmakers say moratorium on construction would buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AI Amid an unprecedented energy crisis and the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, progressive lawmakers have unveiled a new policy to place a moratorium on the construction of AI datacenters. The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders , an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is “affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids’ education”. “AI and robotics are creating the most sweeping technological revolution in the history of humanity,” Sanders said in an emailed statement. “The scale, scope, and speed of that change is unprecedented. Congress is way behind where it should be in understanding the nature of this revolution and its impacts.” The bill’s official introduction comes as calls to halt AI datacenter expansion have gone from the margins to the mainstream. Since August 2025, towns and counties across the country – including in Missouri , Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina – have passed temporary bans on datacenter buildout. At least 11 states are now considering similar policies, according to Good Jobs First , a watchdog group tracking economic development. In December, more than 200 advocacy groups led by the national environmental organization Food and Water Watch also sent House and Senate leaders a letter calling for a federal datacenter moratorium, citing concerns about the sector’s impacts on electricity bills and the climate crisis. Sanders became the first lawmaker to back their demand and it has sin...