A rare source of bipartisanship has broken out in state capitols across the country: tackling data centers.
Legislators from both major parties in red, blue and battleground states alike are rushing to figure out how to regulate the construction and energy consumption of the data centers fueling the AI boom.
This year alone, state lawmakers have proposed more than 300 bills designed to tackle the emerging challenges presented by data centers, according to Multistate, a state and local government relations firm that tracks state legislation across the country.
The flurry of activity comes as voters express wariness about the technology that industry leaders say will transform the American workforce, as well as long-standing concerns about high costs.
The proposals span various categories. Some legislators have sought to implement moratoriums on data center construction — accusing their emergence as a big driver in the increase in utility costs for communities. Many who are
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