Data Center Energy Debate Sparks Moratoriums, Policy Proposals Across the U.S.

A new Heatmap News poll found that 70 percent of Americans would oppose a data center being built near their homes, with 55 percent strongly opposed, reflecting growing public concern over energy and water use by these facilities. The share of Americans blaming data centers for rising electricity prices has nearly doubled, from 28 percent to 53 percent, over the past year. Evidence on whether data centers actually drive up utility bills is mixed: the Institute for Energy Research found only a statistically insignificant relationship between data centers and price increases, though PJM Interconnection, the country's largest grid operator, cited data center load as a factor in a 76 percent electricity price hike in early 2026. Legislative responses have varied widely, from Sen. Bernie Sanders' proposed nationwide construction moratorium to New York's recently passed one-year ban, while North Carolina is advancing new regulatory requirements. Ohio and New Hampshire have taken a different approach, implementing 'consumer-regulated energy' frameworks that allow data centers to purchase power from third-party providers rather than the central grid, which proponents say insulates other ratepayers from cost increases and accelerates construction timelines. At the federal level, Sen. Tom Cotton has introduced the DATA Act, which would exempt off-grid data centers from federal regulations.