US EditionLawmakers in 11 States Propose Temporary Bans on Data Centers
Lawmakers cite rising electricity costs, environmental concerns, and limited job creation to justify temporary bans on data center projects in 11 states, watchdog Good Jobs First reported.
- Lawmakers in at least 11 states introduced bills this session to temporarily ban data centers, spanning Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin, Good Jobs First said.
- Officials say rising electricity costs and grid strain drive moratoriums, while environmental advocates warn data centers consume vast water and increase fossil-fuel risks.
- In New York, lawmakers proposed a bill to halt new data centers over 20 megawatts for three years and direct the DEC to study their impacts, sponsored by Anna Kelles and Liz Krueger.
- Several bills have already stalled or been tabled as labor unions and builders oppose moratoriums, while cities and counties like St. Charles and Fulton County have enacted temporary bans over the past year.
- Policy analysts note that state proposals like Georgia's starting July 1, 2026, and Vermont's until July 2030 could slow AI infrastructure growth and intersect with President Donald Trump's December 2025 executive order.
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Data center growth threatens state climate goals
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of a special State Affairs series highlighting energy policy dominating state legislative action this year. See the full list of stories here. Climate-conscious state lawmakers have proposed policies to keep states on track to meet their environmental goals, as rising electricity demand spurred by data center development is threatening to hamstring efforts to rein in greenhouse-gas emissions. Those proposals in…
UPDATED States Push Data Center Pauses to Buy Time to Gauge Impacts
More states follow municipalities to block or restrict data center expansion, claiming they need time to hear from constituents, developers and power agencies—while big tech firms will sign, at March 4 White House event, administration-pushed "pledge" to cover power costs, but with few details confirmed.
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