California Democratic Representative Ro Cana is preparing to introduce a legislative package he calls the "Data Center Bill of Rights," as voter concerns mount across the nation that facilities powering artificial intelligence could drive up utility electricity costs. The public's opposition is growing, with many fearing these data centers will further strain already high living expenses.
A draft resolution, which has been disclosed, would grant local communities the authority to veto the construction of new data centers. This comes at a time when multiple states are rapidly enacting laws to limit the expansion of such facilities, driven by public anxiety over their potential to increase the cost of living.
Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, won a competitive primary on Tuesday and received an endorsement from Cana. He supports state and local moratoriums on new data center projects until a federal regulatory framework is established. On April 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C., California Representative Ro Cana spoke at a National Press Club event, outlining his plan for the "Data Center Bill of Rights."
Cana, widely expected to run for the presidency in 2028, stated that the resolution would empower communities with a "right to say no" to data center projects. After a recent trip to Pennsylvania, he reported receiving significant feedback from residents about these developments. "The most common message I heard was opposition to new data centers from people across the state," Cana said in an interview. "We need a Data Center Bill of Rights. You can't force a data center into a community; residents should have the power to stand up and reject projects, while ensuring these facilities don't take over farmland or settle in residential areas."
The draft resolution aims to establish a set of rights for local communities to veto data center construction. It is part of a broader wave of legislative efforts to slow down development, as people worry these facilities will exacerbate cost-of-living pressures. The powers granted to communities under Cana's proposal include: prohibiting data centers within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, childcare centers, hospitals, and nursing homes; establishing transparent community consultation processes that allow residents to veto proposed projects; and permitting states to implement statewide bans on new data center construction until state-level protective rules are in place to prevent regular electricity users from bearing the cost of rising rates and to avoid excessive local water consumption.
Several states, including New York, have already imposed moratoriums on data center construction. The draft resolution also stipulates that cities and counties can regulate data center development without being overridden by state-level regulations. It mandates that data centers use clean, stable energy sources and meet pollutant emission limits. Communities would have the right to demand that electricity rates do not increase due to the presence of a data center.
As the midterm elections approach, data center projects across the country are facing political scrutiny. The outcome of these elections will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of President Trump's term. These infrastructure projects, which are crucial for supporting the AI boom and attracting massive investments, are drawing widespread voter backlash due to their high energy and water consumption. The anti-data center expansion movement has recently achieved a series of victories in local elections. In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed won a tough primary on Tuesday with Cana's backing. He advocates for state and local governments to pause approvals for new data centers until a federal regulatory framework is in place. Cana, who represents Silicon Valley, noted that the major hyperscale cloud providers building these data centers are losing public support.
Comments