Representative Ro Khanna plans to introduce a Data Center Rights Act to give
local communities the explicit power to reject data center construction, CNBC
reports. The draft would strengthen local and municipal rights, require data
centers to use clean, reliable energy and comply with pollution limits, and
respond to public concerns that AI infrastructure's large electricity and water
demands will raise power bills and strain resources. Several states, including
New York, already limit data center builds and opponents have scored recently
electoral wins; Khanna said hyperscale builders are "losing the country."
