Ro Khanna Proposes 'Data Center Bill of Rights' to Empower Communities

The California Democrat’s "Data Center Bill of Rights" seeks to curb the influence of Big Tech developers who frequently bypass local input through opaque state-level agreements. By shifting power back to the municipal level, the resolution aims to provide residents with the tools to demand independent environmental assessments and ensure that infrastructure projects do not drive up electricity rates or exhaust vital resources.

This legislative move taps into a growing bipartisan frustration. A May Gallup poll revealed that over 70% of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their immediate vicinity, with opposition spanning three-quarters of Democrats and nearly two-thirds of Republicans. The resolution specifically targets the lack of transparency in current site selection, proposing a 2,500-foot buffer zone around homes, schools, and hospitals, while demanding that developers provide clear impact reports before breaking ground.

Khanna’s proposal joins a broader push on Capitol Hill to impose fiscal and regulatory hurdles on the industry. Sen. Ron Wyden has separately advocated for an excise tax on data centers to prevent them from exploiting tax-advantaged "opportunity zones." Meanwhile, more aggressive measures—including a nationwide moratorium on new construction—have been championed by figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, signaling a significant shift in how lawmakers approach the environmental and economic footprint of rapid AI development.