Democrats target data centers in AI fight
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Democrats are zeroing in on voter frustrations around electricity bill spikes as data centers become an opening to hit back at President Trump's AI policies.
Why it matters: The data center scrutiny is in direct contrast to the Trump administration, which is aligned with industry in its eagerness to start construction in the U.S.
Driving the news: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, on Tuesday called for a "moratorium" on data center construction.
- Trump allies on the Hill used the same language in their push for a "moratorium" this year to stop states from regulating AI.
- Sanders said in a video that new data center construction should be paused to "give democracy a chance to catch up with the transformative changes that we are witnessing, and make sure that the benefits of these technologies work for all of us, not just the wealthiest people on earth."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) this week launched an investigation into Google, Amazon and Meta's "energy-guzzling data centers" and "opaque agreements with utility companies" that leave consumers "holding the bill for these trillion-dollar companies."
- Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) co-signed the letter, which was also sent to Microsoft, CoreWeave, Digital Realty and Equinix, demanding answers on construction details, utility cost impacts and more by Jan. 12.
- Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is also eyeing legislation to protect consumers from data center-driven rate increases.
The intrigue: The Trump administration is threading a needle that may not work with voters — backing industry dreams of a rapid build-out of data centers while while pitching it as a win for everyday Americans.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said the administration's efforts to boost AI research will make people's lives better and bring down electricity prices that have that "infuriated American citizens."
- Outside the Beltway, some Republicans are more clear-eyed on the potential political pitfalls of backing data center construction and are making plans to restrict them, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The bottom line: Democrats are testing whether data centers can become a political liability for Trump, and a way to bring their affordability message to the AI debate.
