More than 300 bans or moratoriums on data center development by U.S. state and local governments have been identified, with 75-plus more under consideration. The tally lays out how local pushback against the AI-driven building boom has spread nationwide.
Since 2023 · U.S. Data Center Backlash
300+ Local Bans Now Threaten America's Data Center Boom
As AI strains power, water and land, more than 300 bans and moratoriums have been enacted by U.S. state and local governments since 2023 — with 75+ more under consideration. Once a prize, data centers are now a fight.
300+
Bans & moratoriums enacted since 2023
75+
More measures under consideration
14
States weighing bans or pauses
85%
Of cooling water lost to evaporation
Why the backlash: demand projected to surge by 2028
Each column drawn to scale — current value vs. projection.
Total power demand
≈ doubling
AI server power (TWh/yr, upper est.)
up to ≈ 4×
Direct water use (B gallons, upper est.)
up to ≈ 4×
One large facility, daily water footprint
A single big data center can draw up to 5 million gallons a day — equivalent to about 50,000 households .
= 50,000 homes:
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Communities & states pushing back
Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, Baltimore: 6–12 month pauses
Harford County, MD: first county-level full ban
Ohio: ballot amendment to bar centers above 25MW
Florida SB 484: blocks cost-shifting to residents
Developers & industry response
Maryland Tech Council warns of constitutional & litigation risk
Calls for guidelines rather than outright bans
Some towns still want tax revenue and jobs
Complex permitting raises political risk for projects
States once competed with tax credits to win these projects — now policy is shifting toward regulation and pauses , with 300+ related bills across more than 30 states.
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