Key facts
- Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) has called for a national moratorium on AI data center construction.
- Concerns include rising electricity prices, environmental damage, and public health risks.
- Data center energy consumption has doubled since 2017 and is projected to increase significantly.
- Critics argue data centers are straining the power grid and increasing costs for consumers.
- Environmental issues include pollution from generators, water usage, noise, and light pollution.
- Pallone criticized industry promises to lower costs and called for action beyond 'toothless promises'.
Representative Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has endorsed a national moratorium on the construction of AI data centers. Pallone cited significant concerns regarding the escalating energy consumption of these facilities, their impact on electricity prices for American families, and their environmental and public health consequences.
Pallone highlighted that data center energy consumption has doubled between 2017 and 2023, and a recent report suggests they could account for over 15% of the nation's total electricity use by 2030. He referenced a severe warning from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation about the risks data centers pose to the reliability of the power grid. Furthermore, Pallone argued that these facilities are driving up monthly energy costs, with an estimated $9 billion paid by ratepayers in the mid-Atlantic region last year alone to fuel AI ambitions.
The environmental impacts cited include pollution from diesel generators, significant water usage in stressed regions, noise pollution, and light pollution. Pallone also expressed concern that the EPA is attempting to fast-track the approval of chemicals like PFAS for use in data centers. He noted that several towns in his district have already implemented local moratoriums and urged Congress to follow suit, criticizing industry promises to lower costs as "toothless promises."