By Doug Kelly:
To preserve America’s national security and economic competitiveness against foreign adversaries, the United States must lead the artificial intelligence (AI) era.
But, the infrastructure necessary to maintain that edge is increasingly being questioned. More than 200 communities have enacted data center moratoriums or similar restrictions, a growing number of states are imposing or considering pauses, and dozens of high-profile data center projects have slowed or stopped across the country.
Certainly, local communities have legitimate questions about this buildout. Who pays for the new electricity and infrastructure? What happens to local water supplies? How will noise, light and large industrial facilities affect nearby neighborhoods? And what will communities receive in return? Those questions deserve and must have honest answers.
But at the same time, America must keep building its data center infrastructure. AI is the most transformative technology of the past 100 years, one that is already driving roughly a third of U.S. economic growth. What we build, or don’t build, today will help determine whether America leads the AI era or falls behind China.
We need a better way forward. An “American AI Infrastructure Compact” can protect communities while giving responsible projects a predictable path to construction. Four key protections include:
- Protection for ratepayers and taxpayers. Developers agree to pay their energy costs and the project-driven infrastructure costs required to serve them, rather than shifting those costs to families and businesses.
- Protection for local resources. Projects responsibly manage water use, siting, noise, light, and other local impacts while planning for or bringing the power they require.
- Transparency and accountability. Communities get meaningful information about energy and water use, a voice early enough for their input to matter and assurance that commitments can be measured and enforced.
- Measurable local benefits. Major investments should expand local tax bases, create workforce and career opportunities, and deliver tangible benefits where they are built.
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