As the data center boom takes hold, lawmakers in dozens of states are looking to blunt the impact of high electricity prices.

Construction of new data centers in the US fell for the first time since 2020 despite soaring demand for artificial intelligence computing capacity, as developers face delays in permitting, zoning and power procurement.

The New York State Senate introduced a bill earlier this month that would put a three-year moratorium on data centers if it becomes law. Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont, Georgia, Maine, and major data center hub Virginia state legislatures are all currently considering moratoriums ranging from two to four years.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Thursday slammed Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) proposal for a national moratorium on data centers, deeming the idea as an intentional “surrender” to China amid their rapid development of artificial intelligence.

A Spartanburg County councilman who voted in favor of a proposed artificial intelligence data center known as Project Spero now says the project may not move forward.

Data center vacancies at the end of 2025 remained at a historic low of 1% for the second year in a row. The demand is now being driven by hyperscalers and AI, and headwinds to new development are keeping construction less robust than it could be.

A proposed Google data center campus in Botetourt County could use between 2 million and 8 million gallons of drinking water per day, according to an executed agreement between the developer and the Western Virginia Water Authority.

Amazon announced a $12 billion data center project in Louisiana in which the company vowed to pay its own way for energy and other infrastructure.

The Western Virginia Water Authority this week released records detailing Google’s projected water use at a planned data center in Botetourt County, following a months-long court battle with the Roanoke Rambler.

Google announced plans for a new data center in Wilbarger County, saying it focuses on clean energy and water security.

Many in Independence have rallied against an incoming AI data center. But supporters are emerging, including the Independence School District.