To: Congress
Fight back and ban construction of AI data centers
We urge you to support a moratorium on the construction of AI data centers.
Why is this important?
The “data center rebellion is here,” wrote The Washington Post recently. Mass opposition to data center construction is a frontline in the fight against billionaires reaping massive profits while causing environmental catastrophe and skyrocketing utility costs for working people.
Communities across the country are leading fierce grassroots campaigns against data centers, including Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Asheville, North Carolina; St. Charles, Missouri; Calexico, California; and Palm Beach, Florida. In areas near data centers, residents saw utility costs rise 267% over the last five years. The centers use tremendous amounts of water and electricity, threatening local water supplies and posing dangers to the stability of local power grids.
Senator Bernie Sanders joined local communities and called for a moratorium on AI data center construction. Congress must back Sen. Sanders to stop Big Tech’s exploitation of working people and the environment.
Sign the petition: Fight back against Big Tech and urge lawmakers to oppose AI data centers now!
More than 200 environmental organizations have called for a halt on AI data center construction, citing grave threats to “Americans’ economic, environmental, climate and water security.” Towns and counties in at least fourteen states have issued their own local bans on data centers.
OpenAI, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft and Amazon are all in a rush to build new data centers. OpenAI’s current plans would stand up centers that collectively consume more energy than New York City and San Diego. American data centers could consume as much water as ten million Americans by 2030.
Big cities and small communities alike are fighting to stop rising electric costs and protect water resources, their local environment, and the stability of their power grid. Now, Congress must join this effort and protect their constituents.
Sign the petition: Call for an AI data center moratorium now!
SOURCES:
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/06/data-centers-backlash-impact-local-communities-opposition/
- https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/
- https://x.com/SenSanders/status/2001057004370948131
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/08/us-data-centers
- https://www.techpolicy.press/the-real-race-for-an-ai-moratorium-stopping-data-centers/
Communities across the country are leading fierce grassroots campaigns against data centers, including Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Asheville, North Carolina; St. Charles, Missouri; Calexico, California; and Palm Beach, Florida. In areas near data centers, residents saw utility costs rise 267% over the last five years. The centers use tremendous amounts of water and electricity, threatening local water supplies and posing dangers to the stability of local power grids.
Senator Bernie Sanders joined local communities and called for a moratorium on AI data center construction. Congress must back Sen. Sanders to stop Big Tech’s exploitation of working people and the environment.
Sign the petition: Fight back against Big Tech and urge lawmakers to oppose AI data centers now!
More than 200 environmental organizations have called for a halt on AI data center construction, citing grave threats to “Americans’ economic, environmental, climate and water security.” Towns and counties in at least fourteen states have issued their own local bans on data centers.
OpenAI, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft and Amazon are all in a rush to build new data centers. OpenAI’s current plans would stand up centers that collectively consume more energy than New York City and San Diego. American data centers could consume as much water as ten million Americans by 2030.
Big cities and small communities alike are fighting to stop rising electric costs and protect water resources, their local environment, and the stability of their power grid. Now, Congress must join this effort and protect their constituents.
Sign the petition: Call for an AI data center moratorium now!
SOURCES:
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/06/data-centers-backlash-impact-local-communities-opposition/
- https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/
- https://x.com/SenSanders/status/2001057004370948131
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/08/us-data-centers
- https://www.techpolicy.press/the-real-race-for-an-ai-moratorium-stopping-data-centers/