Over 300 US localities enact data center bans in three years

More than 300 cities, counties and states across the US have enacted data center construction bans or moratoriums over the past three years, as local backlash against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure widens. More than 275 of those measures reportedly took effect after January 1, 2026, marking a sharp acceleration in a short window. The Information's reporting framed the trend as a threat to the US data center construction boom.