THE US CONGRESSMAN PROPOSED A DATA CENTER RIGHTS BILL TO CURB THE EXPANSION OF AI

ON 6 AUGUST, ACCORDING TO CNBC, UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN ROWE CANNER PROPOSED A DATA CENTRE RIGHTS BILL TO EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO REFUSE TO BUILD DATA CENTRES. THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE EXPANSION OF DATA CENTRES IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO RISE AS PEOPLE FEAR THAT THE HUGE ENERGY NEEDS OF AI WILL PUSH UP ELECTRICITY COSTS AND INCREASE PRESSURE ON WATER RESOURCES. QANA INDICATED THAT DURING ITS RECENT VISIT TO PENNSYLVANIA, THE GREATEST FEEDBACK RECEIVED WAS WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTRES. “WE NEED A BILL OF RIGHTS SO THAT COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE TO BE FORCED TO ACCEPT THESE DATA CENTRES AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT BUILT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.” THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES A NUMBER OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR THE RIGHTS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA CENTRES TO USE CLEAN AND RELIABLE ENERGY AND TO COMPLY WITH POLLUTION EMISSION LIMITS. CURRENTLY, SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING NEW YORK STATE, HAVE IMPLEMENTED A DATA CENTRE CONSTRUCTION BAN, AND DATA CENTRE OPPONENTS HAVE RECENTLY WON MAJOR ELECTIONS. QANA CLAIMS THAT THE SUPER-SIZED ENTERPRISE THAT BUILT THE DATA CENTRE IS “LOST THE COUNTRY”。