Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says public opinion has shifted sharply toward his and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) call to pause new AI data center construction as communities push back against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
Bernie Sanders Says He Was Labeled 'Radical,' 'Crazy' and an Extremist for His Data Center Moratorium Push: 'Today 75% of Americans Agree'
MarketDash
Bernie Sanders says growing public opposition to AI data centers validates his and AOC’s moratorium push as Trump defends expansion.
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Sanders Says Americans Are Now on His Side
Over the weekend, Sanders pointed to a new Heatmap Pro poll conducted by Embold Research showing that 75% of Americans oppose having a new data center built near where they live, with more than six in 10 saying they would strongly oppose such a project.
"That's by far the most negative response since Heatmap Pro started polling Americans about their receptivity to data centers roughly a year ago," according to the polling data.
Sanders highlighted the shift on X, saying he and Ocasio-Cortez were criticized when they first called for a moratorium.
"Five months ago, AOC and I called for a moratorium on new AI data centers," Sanders wrote. "We were called 'radical,' 'crazy' and 'extremists.' Today, 75% of Americans agree and hundreds of candidates are responding."
Sanders, AOC Wanted a Pause on AI Data Centers
In March, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez introduced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, which would pause new data center projects requiring at least 20 megawatts of power until Congress establishes safeguards for AI.
The proposal faced opposition from technology executives, including Tesla Inc. (TSLA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPCX) CEO Elon Musk and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan.
AI Leaders Face Growing Backlash
The debate is increasingly becoming a political problem for the AI industry.
President Donald Trump has defended data center expansion, arguing the facilities can bring substantial jobs, investment and tax revenue. He has acknowledged that data centers could use "a little public relations help" as opposition grows.
Meanwhile, critics argue the backlash isn't solely about electricity, water or noise.
In a separate post, Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman agreed with commentator Erick Erickson that AI executives' warnings about job displacement and existential risks may have frightened the public.
"The rebellion isn't against AI itself, it's against certain spokespeople who have come across as callous, self-serving and/or diabolical in how they have communicated the expected impact and value of AI to society," Newman wrote on X.
States Are Starting to Push Back
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) imposed new requirements on data center developers, including stricter energy, environmental, transparency and community-engagement standards.
The move follows New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D) pause on hyperscale data centers requiring 50 megawatts or more of power. At the time, Trump called the moratorium a "terrible decision," warning New York could lose jobs, investment and tax revenue to other states.
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