Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation Wednesday to temporarily halt construction of new artificial intelligence data centers, citing concerns over energy use, environmental impact, and community welfare.

The proposed moratorium would give federal lawmakers time to establish regulatory safeguards for AI infrastructure, which the legislators say affects "everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids' education." Ocasio-Cortez plans to introduce companion legislation in the House in the coming weeks.

The federal proposal comes as local communities across the country are increasingly pushing back against data center developments. In Sand Springs, Oklahoma, city council members who welcomed a Google data center now face recall efforts from residents. The community joins a growing number of localities where voters are attempting to remove elected officials over data center approvals.

In Aurora, Colorado, the city council recently passed noise restrictions on data centers after residents complained about what one described as "white noise on steroids." The Aurora regulations address concerns over noise pollution, water usage, energy consumption, and what residents say was a lack of public input in the site selection process.

The local opposition reflects broader concerns about the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and its impact on communities. Data centers require significant energy resources and can generate substantial noise from cooling systems, leading to conflicts with residential areas.

The proposed federal legislation represents the most significant congressional response to date regarding the environmental and social costs of AI infrastructure development, as lawmakers seek to balance technological advancement with community concerns.