All articles tagged with #moratorium
Hill County, Texas’s commissioners voted 3-2 to impose a yearlong moratorium on data center and related power plant construction in unincorporated areas to slow rapid development and give lawmakers time to address concerns over water use, electric grid strain, and impacts on landowners, amid opposition from residents and threats of lawsuits from developers.
President Trump indicated a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s nuclear program could be enough to seal a deal and end the war, marking a shift from his earlier stance that Iran should never enrich. He criticized Iran’s latest offer as insufficient, stressing that any guarantee must be stronger and that a deal should not require surrender. The remarks come amid ongoing behind-the-scenes talks and a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire framework, as Washington presses Tehran to surrender its nuclear material; Iran reportedly retains a stockpile of enriched uranium. No final agreement has been reached.
Governor Janet Mills vetoed an 18‑month moratorium on large data centers after lawmakers passed the bill, saying she wants to study AI impacts but citing the Jay, Maine project—already under contract and permits—that would create about 800 construction jobs and at least 100 permanent jobs plus substantial local tax revenue, and should be allowed to proceed.
In Islamabad over the weekend, the U.S. floated a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran offered a much shorter window; mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are trying to bridge the gap as negotiators race to seal a ceasefire deal, with no agreement yet and ongoing exchanges about removing or down-blending enriched material.
Maine is poised to become the first state to enact a temporary moratorium on AI data-center construction (until November 1, 2027), a move not guaranteed as the governor could veto; 11 other states have proposed similar bans this year but most haven’t advanced, and localities have begun enacting their own pauses while a federal pause proposal from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez remains under consideration.
U.S. lawmakers Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled bills to impose an immediate federal moratorium on AI data-center construction until comprehensive safeguards protect health, privacy, workers’ rights, and the environment, with Sanders leading the Senate effort and Ocasio-Cortez preparing a House counterpart to slow AI development and push for nationwide regulation.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled a bill to ban new AI datacenter construction until comprehensive federal safeguards are in place, citing climate, energy costs, privacy and worker impacts; the proposal would also bar the export of AI hardware to countries without protections, with a House companion bill to follow. The move follows growing public concern and local moratoria, though passage in a polarized Congress remains uncertain.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act to pause new or expanded AI data centers while evaluating energy use, environmental impact and local effects, a proposal underscored by images of facilities like Google's Georgia data center.
A growing bloc of progressives on Capitol Hill is backing a nationwide moratorium on new data centers to slow energy and water use, with Sen. Bernie Sanders leading and Rep. Pramila Jayapal rallying behind it; supporters say a pause would let regulators catch up as the White House pushes AI growth, while Democrats across the spectrum warn it could hurt competitiveness, with local and state moves (New York, Denver) and mixed public opinion shaping the debate.
The US Senate voted 99-1 to remove a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations from a broader domestic policy bill, signaling support for ongoing AI oversight and accountability efforts amid concerns over a federal regulatory gap.
Senate Republicans are considering modifications to a proposed AI law moratorium after the Senate parliamentarian requested clarifications, particularly regarding its impact on broadband funding, amid divisions within the GOP and support from the tech industry.
Several House Republicans have declared a red line on a megabill concerning land sales, amid ongoing debates over a 10-year moratorium on enforcing state AI laws linked to a large broadband funding package. The Senate parliamentarian has requested revisions to clarify the scope of the moratorium, which has caused division among Republicans and concerns from state officials and industry groups. The bill's language and its implications for AI regulation and broadband funding are under intense scrutiny and debate.
The Senate parliamentarian has requested revisions to a bill's language concerning a 10-year moratorium on enforcing state AI laws, specifically to clarify its impact on $42 billion in broadband funding, amid political debates and differing opinions among Republicans, Democrats, and industry groups.
The Senate is considering a bill that includes a 10-year moratorium on enforcing state AI laws, with debates over its scope and impact on broadband funding, amid mixed support from politicians and industry groups.
Scientific advisers to the European Commission have recommended a moratorium on solar geoengineering efforts across the EU, citing insufficient evidence and potential risks. These technologies, which aim to cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight, have faced criticism despite their potential to combat climate change. The European Commission's advisory groups have expressed concerns over the high levels of uncertainty and possible harmful effects, advocating against large-scale experimentation and deployment.