Over 300 Local Bans, Moratoriums Hit U.S. Data Center Buildout Since 2023

Since 2023, state and local governments across the U.S. have passed more than 300 measures temporarily halting (moratoriums) or permanently banning new data center development, with 75 or more additional measures under consideration. The infrastructure expansion fueling the AI boom is running into a new wall: local opposition over power, water and noise.