1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support upcoming legislation that would implement a national moratorium on the construction of new data centers used to power artificial intelligence. More than 230 environmental groups, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Physicians for Social Responsibility, have joined Food & Water Watch in calling for this pause, and I strongly support their position. The rapid expansion of AI data centers is outpacing our regulatory framework and threatening both our environment and our wallets. These massive facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water for cooling systems, driving up electricity prices that are already increasing for families across the country. We need time to determine if data centers can be built safely for the environment, preserve water resources for communities, and protect consumers from higher utility bills. Mitch Jones from Food & Water Watch has articulated what many of us feel: we cannot allow this infrastructure to expand unchecked without proper safeguards. The proposed regulatory approach makes sense. It would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission more oversight over data center construction, regulate water usage for cooling systems, and make data center construction subject to existing federal environmental laws. These are reasonable measures that balance innovation with environmental protection and consumer welfare. I understand the Data Center Coalition argues that halting construction would jeopardize digital infrastructure and economic competitiveness. However, a temporary pause to establish proper regulations is not a permanent ban. It is a responsible approach to ensure that this technology serves the public interest rather than harming it through environmental degradation and increased costs for ordinary Americans. I ask that you support legislation establishing a national moratorium on new AI data center construction when it is introduced in Congress. Our communities deserve protection from the environmental and economic impacts of unchecked development.