With First-of-Its-Kind Bill, #BernieSanders and #AOC Propose #Moratorium on New #AI #DataCenters

“These massive facilities are sucking up precious #water resources, paving over #farmland, driving #ClimateChange, and disrupting the fabric of communities,” said one supporter of the new legislation.

by Jake Johnson, Mar 25, 2026

"Two of the leading progressives in the US Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, announced legislation on Wednesday that would impose a nationwide moratorium on the construction of new artificial intelligence data centers amid mounting concerns over their insatiable consumption of power and water resources, impacts on the climate, and other harms.

"Sanders’ (I-Vt.) office said in a press release announcing the #ArtificialIntelligence #DataCenterMoratorium Act that the construction pause would remain in effect 'until strong national safeguards are in place to protect workers, consumers, and communities, defend privacy and #CivilRights, and ensure these technologies do not harm our #environment.'

"Sanders and #OcasioCortez (D-NY) are set to formally introduce their legislation at a press conference on Wednesday at 4 pm ET.

"Food & Water Watch (#FWW), which last year became the first national organization in the US to call for a total moratorium on the approval of new AI data centers, celebrated the first-of-its-kind bill and called on other members of Congress to 'move quickly to sponsor, champion, and pass' it. FWW’s groundbreaking call for a national AI data center moratorium was later echoed by hundreds of advocacy organizations at the state and national levels.

" 'We need a halt to the explosive growth of new AI data center construction now, because political and community leaders across the country have been caught completely off guard by this aggressive, profit-hungry industry,' Mitch Jones, FWW’s managing director of policy and litigation, said in a statement Wednesday. 'It has yet to be determined if—not how—the industry can ever operate in a manner that sufficiently protects people and society from the profusion of inherent hazards and harms that data centers bring wherever they appear.' "

Read more:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/ai-data-center-moratorium

#AWS #NoDatacenters #NoAI #NoNukesForAI #UnrestrictedGrowth #WaterIsLife #NoisePollution #AISucks #USPol

No more #Maine #DataCenters for now, lawmakers say

Lawmakers advanced a measure that drew attention last month when one senator said it could kill a previously unannounced project in Sanford.

by Daniel Kool, Posted March 5, Updated March 6, 2026

"Maine lawmakers voted Thursday to advance a bill that would stop the development of new data centers in the state for more than a year.

"The bill, #LD307, would create a temporary limitation on data centers with electric loads of at least 20 megawatts by preventing the state, local governments and quasi-governmental agencies from issuing permits or other approvals until 90 days after the first session of the 133rd Legislature adjourns.

"That will likely be around October 2027, the bill’s sponsor, said Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport.

"That would give a new “Data Center Coordination Council,” also created by the bill, time to study and review the potential impacts of building the centers in Maine. The Department of Energy Resources would be responsible for convening the body.

"Sachs has said the restriction is designed to address future growth without impeding projects that are already well underway, such as one pegged for the former Loring Air Force Base.

"Members of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee have debated the bill for weeks.

"On Thursday, they voted 8-5 in favor of passing the bill with amendments, sending it to the broader Legislature. The committee vote fell along party lines, with Democrats supporting the measure."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/05/no-more-maine-data-centers-for-now-lawmakers-say/

#SanfordME #JayME #LewistonME #WiscassetME #AWS #NoDatacenters #NoAI #MainePol #UnrestrictedGrowth #WaterIsLife #NoisePollution

Less traffic, less noise: Green axes cut noise levels in cities https://phys.org/news/2026-03-traffic-noise-green-axes-cities.html

#city #cities #environment #traffic #NoisePollution

Blame it on the autism, but when I cannot begin to understand other people's motivation my brain just grinds to a halt and SCREAMS.

I get a lots of ads for ""musicians"" on my Instagram. Probably more than the average person because I click on them due to morbid curiosity and "for research" and it just gets worse because I never get any damn answers.

Half of them are AI to start with, so there's that…

The rest? Jesus fucking damn. Some of us have had music in our bones since we were born and we've been chasing this dream to the point of self-destruction while a burning world tries its best to finish us off.

These "singer songwriter" girls? I just don't understand it. My best guess is they have tits + long blond hair + money so being a "singer" is just another flavor of influencer grift. They think it makes them special. And their desperation for attention makes the rest of us who actually want to be recognized for skill and authentic vulnerability look bad. These are the girls "doing it for the fame."

And if they even HAVE a website or bio, which the majority DON'T, it never SAYS anything. WHY did they get into music? No clue. It's literally nothing but hollow buzzwords like "powerful" and "emotional" and "soulful"… (I am issuing a swift kick in the pants to every fucking "artist" who puts the words "soulful vocals" into their bio)… AND IT JUST DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING. How and why am I supposed to care about your "music" if YOU don't even give enough of a shit to specifically TELL ME ABOUT IT and why it matters to you?!

I hate this timeline.

I think #GorhamME needs to fire their town government officials! WTF! Also, if Amazon builds their warehouse, you can bet they'll be pushing for the #GorhamConnector as well, which will bring more #UrbanSprawl!!!

Gorham residents push back against #AmazonWarehouse proposal

by Bonnie Bishop, Feb 26, 2026

GORHAM, #Maine — "Gorham residents are trying to prevent Amazon from becoming their new neighbor as a proposal to build a warehouse in the town continues to loom.

"The backlash comes despite the town already giving the company the green light to build a nearly 160,000 square foot warehouse. An Amazon spokesperson said the new facility would create economic growth in Gorham. [BULLSHIT!!!]

"Dozens of Gorham residents gathered Thursday to air their concerns about the project.

" 'I think that this deal is a bad deal for Gorham. It is going to create a lot of negative impacts for the town,' Gorham resident Josh Trombley said. 'We're not going to see a lot of benefit in terms of tax revenue.'

"Anne Bilodeau lives on Shamrock Drive, right up against where the project is set to be developed. She said she worries about more traffic and noise surrounding the neighborhood she's lived in for over 20 years.

" 'I can't imagine opening a window in the summertime anymore with that back there,' Bilodeau said.

"The Gorham Town Council said yes to Amazon's proposal to buy roughly 94 acres for about $4 million over the summer. The citizens' group, #GorhamUnited, said Amazon hasn't finalized the sale and they see why an opportunity to stop it."

Read more:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/gorham-residents-push-back-against-amazon-warehouse-proposal/70525740

#MainePol #TrafficPollution #NoisePollution #ResistBigTech #ResistAmazon

More #DataCenters coming to #Illinois as residents complain about #noise, #electric bills: What to know

Story by Jason Knowles, Maggie Green, February 17, 2026

"Data centers are moving in. They power everything from #StreamingServices to #ArtificialIntelligence, but critics say they are noisy and can jack up your #ElectricBills.

Now, the I-Team and ABC News are finding that more than 3,000 data centers are already operating nationwide, with at least 1,000 more planned. Some are in the #ChicagoIL area."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/more-data-centers-coming-to-illinois-as-residents-complain-about-noise-electric-bills-what-to-know/ar-AA1Wyml9

#NoisePollution #NoEnergyForAI #NoEnergyForDatacenters #BigData #TechBullies #AISucks #DatacenterResistance #WaterIsLife