- A new bill introduced to Congress wants to ban data centers from federal land
- The bill has been co-sponsored by numerous representatives across the US
- Trump’s data center buildout is worsening pollution and raising utility bills for millions of Americans
A bill that would see data centers banned from being built on US federal lands has been introduced to Congress by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).
The ‘No AI Data Centers on Federal Lands Act’ would also see existing AI data centers removed from federal land, and the sites decontaminated to protect the local environment and water systems.
“Everywhere I go in our district, our residents tell me loud and clear, data centers are not welcome in our communities. AI data centers bring noise, light, air, and water pollution, and can increase energy costs by as much as 267%,” said Rep. Tlaib, co-founder of the People’s Environmental Justice Caucus.
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AI at any cost
As part of the Trump administration’s plans to remain a world leader in AI technology, the Department of Defense has requested $30 billion in funding to build secure AI data centers as part of the Pentagon’s “AI Arsenal initiative”. This initiative is part of a move to equip the US military with AI systems to be integrated into battle management and warfare operations, threat detection and analysis, and supply chain logistics.
These military data centers could also be built without being subject to the Clean Air Act, meaning construction of the sites would be allowed to go ahead without any consideration for health risks to local populations.
The Department of Energy is also looking to build 16 new data centers under guidance from the Trump administration. The DoE data centers would be provided with fast-track approval for energy generation. Many new data centers are turning to polluting gas-burning turbine generators that produce noise levels similar to international airports, and cause sickness in local populations.
“Our residents are choking on smog and already paying too much for their utility bills, yet the Trump administration wants to place heavier cost burdens on the shoulders of hardworking Americans,” Rep. Tlaib said.
“Our corrupt, AI-addicted President cannot be allowed to sacrifice our federal lands so that Big Tech oligarchs can get richer. I will continue to push back against harmful AI data centers alongside our residents to protect our public lands, health, and environment.”
“While the Trump administration willingly serves up our environment on a platter to Big Tech and their data centers, Rep. Tlaib’s proposed legislation is drawing a line in the sand,” said Camden Weber, senior climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“Public lands belong to the people, not to Big Tech’s bottom line. This bill is a necessary step toward holding the industry accountable and protecting the air, water and places all species depend on.”
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