U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman has introduced legislation to study the environmental and community impacts of rapidly expanding data centers tied to the growth of artificial intelligence.
The proposed Data Center Community Impact Act would authorize a federal study examining the environmental, economic and public health effects of data centers, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color.
Watson Coleman, who represents New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, said the measure is aimed at addressing concerns about the rapid expansion of large-scale infrastructure tied to AI development.
“Infrastructure projects, like the AI data centers being built, are important to the success of industry and economic growth in this country, but we must first protect the health of people and the planet,” Watson Coleman said.
“Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods are often over-burdened and disproportionately impacted by large-scale infrastructure projects,” Watson Coleman said.
The legislation comes as demand for data centers continues to grow nationwide, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Supporters of the bill say the impacts of these facilities are not fully understood, particularly as they relate to energy consumption, water use and pollution.
“As billionaires and big tech manipulate and control more and more of our everyday lives, it’s critical that communities have access to the real impacts of data center infrastructure on their pocketbooks, health and environment,” said Mar Zepeda Salazar, legislative director of Climate Justice Alliance.
“We appreciated the opportunity to work with Representative Watson Coleman’s office on the Data Center Community Impact Act which we believe will help ensure that frontline communities … have the ability to hold industry, elected officials, and our federal government accountable,” Salazar said.
Environmental and advocacy groups backing the measure include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Climate Justice Alliance, GreenLatinos, Food & Water Watch and Climate Revolution Action Network.
Advocates cited concerns about increased pollution, high water usage and energy demands tied to large data center projects.
“Data centers are expanding at a breakneck pace, but our understanding of real-world impacts is not keeping up,” said Jim Walsh, policy director at Food & Water Watch.
“Representative Watson Coleman’s legislation is an important part of stopping this unchecked buildout of data centers by requiring a hard look at the impact of these massive projects,” Walsh said.
The bill is co-sponsored by several members of Congress, including representatives from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona and Washington, D.C.
