Rep. Terri Sewell backs bill to pause AI data center construction pending safeguards
By ABC 33/40
Published: Tue., July 21, 2026
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama announced today that she has cosponsored legislation that would temporarily pause the construction and expansion of large artificial intelligence data centers until Congress establishes federal safeguards.
Sewell, a Democrat who represents Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, said the AI Data Center Moratorium Act is a response to the rapid nationwide growth of AI data centers and concerns about their demand for water and other public resources, including in her district.
“Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize health care, strengthen our economy, improve education, and solve some of our nation’s greatest challenges,” Sewell said. “I want America to lead the world in AI innovation, and I want Alabama to compete for the industries of the future. But innovation cannot come at the expense of the communities it is meant to serve.”
Sewell said she has heard from residents across the district who are worried about how large-scale AI data centers could affect neighborhoods, infrastructure and quality of life.
“I have heard from countless residents from across Alabama’s 7th Congressional District who are deeply concerned about the impact that large-scale AI data centers could have on their neighborhoods, infrastructure, and quality of life,” Sewell said. “They are asking thoughtful, commonsense questions about water use, energy demands, environmental impacts, and whether local communities will truly benefit from these developments. I share their concerns.”
Sewell emphasized that the proposal is not meant to permanently stop technological progress, but to ensure policy keeps pace with the speed of AI development.
“I am not anti-AI, and I am certainly not anti-innovation,” Sewell said. “The rate at which these massive data centers are being constructed is simply outpacing our ability to establish meaningful protections for the communities that will host them. Congress has a responsibility to put commonsense federal guardrails in place so that every community—not just a select few—shares in the benefits of this technological revolution.”
Under the bill, new AI data center construction and major expansions would be paused while Congress develops a federal framework addressing environmental impacts, energy and water consumption, labor standards, consumer privacy, community engagement and equitable economic development.
Sewell said communities in Alabama’s 7th District have increasingly raised concerns about the scale of proposed AI infrastructure and the potential strain on local resources.
“For too long, underserved communities have been asked to shoulder disproportionate environmental and economic burdens while others reap the rewards,” Sewell said. “As we build the economy of tomorrow, we must ensure that innovation lifts up every community rather than leaving some to bear the costs. Responsible innovation and community protection are not competing goals—they are complementary ones.”