Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act

Key Points

• The bill would halt all new construction and upgrades of large AI data centers across the United States. The freeze applies to facilities used for AI at scale or those exceeding 20 megawatts of power capacity with advanced cooling systems. The moratorium lasts indefinitely until Congress passes separate laws addressing AI safety, worker protections, and environmental standards.
• Before data center construction can resume, Congress must pass laws requiring the federal government to review and approve AI products before release, similar to how drugs are approved. These laws must also ensure AI's economic gains benefit workers, not just wealthy tech company owners, including policies to prevent job displacement.
• Future data centers built after the moratorium ends must meet strict conditions: they cannot raise consumer electricity bills, cannot worsen climate change, must create union jobs with prevailing wages, and cannot receive any government subsidies. Local communities must also be empowered to approve or reject construction.
• The Department of Energy would be required to publish quarterly reports on every AI data center, covering energy use, water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, noise levels, wages, and job counts. The agency could issue subpoenas and conduct inspections to verify compliance.
• The bill bans exporting advanced computing hardware like semiconductors and networking equipment to countries that have not enacted AI safety and worker protection laws comparable to those required by this bill. This effectively creates a global pressure campaign for AI regulation.