A step too far? US lawmaker pledges 'Data Center Bill of Rights' to let protests be more effective
Ro Khanna's Data Center Bill of Rights would ban data centers within half a mile of homes and schools, but it might lack teeth as a non-binding resolution.
Congressman Ro Khanna has introduced a bill known as the "Data Center Bill of Rights." This legislation seeks to establish a 2,500-foot buffer around homes, schools, and hospitals to prevent the construction of data centers in these locations. The bill also grants local communities the power to veto any proposed data center development, ensuring that their decisions cannot be overridden by state authorities.
Additionally, the bill requires operators to provide mandatory impact reports on various factors, including electricity demand, utility bills, health, noise, rents, and housing. It further mandates operators to disclose their projected water consumption and file semiannual usage reports. The legislation also includes provisions to attach labor standards and clawback clauses to any subsidies offered to data center operators.
While H. Res. 1471 is currently a simple House resolution that lacks legal enforceability and does not move to the Senate or the President, it serves as an important stance in the ongoing debate surrounding data center construction. With data center buildouts continuing across the country, often in areas already experiencing high power costs and water scarcity, Khanna's proposal aims to provide a blueprint for cities and states grappling with similar issues.
New York and Nashville, for instance, are actively trying to protect their iconic zoo from potential data center encroachments. Critics argue that the 2,500-foot buffer zone is excessively wide, potentially creating a massive exclusion zone that could affect a significant portion of urban and suburban America. However, progressive lawmakers like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) advocate for a more stringent solution, calling for a moratorium on large AI data centers until additional regulations are put in place.
Despite the lack of legislative force, the introduction of this bill marks a significant step forward in addressing the contentious issue of data center development and its implications for communities across the nation.
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