WASHINGTON -- Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman running for Florida governor, on Monday announced legislation intended to prevent artificial intelligence data centers from driving up utility costs, the latest sign of a political backlash over the new technology.
The proposal, if passed by Congress, would require data centers to obtain all their electricity and water needs from private sources, rather than the power grid or public water systems.
The idea aligns with an earlier, voluntary initiative from President Donald Trump.
"If you talk to these guys who are building these data centers, if it means that they have to pick up the utility costs, they're more than willing to do it," Donalds said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"It's in their interest to make sure that we can construct these centers, and I think the number one way you address and mitigate the concerns that people are having is to just ensure their utility bills aren't going up in the process." Donalds' proposal is noteworthy coming from a candidate backed by pro-AI political action committees and Trump.
The legislation comes during a rapid nationwide build-out of data centers to match growing demand for artificial intelligence systems.
Major technology firms at the heart of the AI boom have quickly become some of the world's most valuable and watched companies, while the Trump administration has aligned itself with the industry's major players.
Several major tech companies developing AI infrastructure have committed to agreements with the Trump administration to cover the expenses of building new power sources rather than shifting the burden to residential households.
But given the expected increase in demand, it's unclear if the voluntary agreement is legally enforceable.
The furious pace of construction and high stakes of the technology have raised concerns among many Americans.
In Florida, more....
