Americans are increasingly turning against the rapid expansion of massive artificial intelligence (AI) data centers as concerns over soaring electricity demand, water consumption, and pressure on local infrastructure push lawmakers across the country to impose new restrictions.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) announced in August that his administration had effectively halted as many as 1,800 proposed AI data center projects while establishing new requirements designed to prevent the facilities from draining resources from surrounding communities.
New York has also moved to block certain large data center projects, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) has imposed new requirements on developers seeking state support.
The backlash reflects a dramatic shift in public sentiment as the artificial intelligence boom drives enormous new demand for electricity and computing infrastructure.