Data Centers are a part of cyber infrastructure. They store, process, and route the digital data that powers global communication, finance, healthcare, and our daily internet use.

As conversations around where data centers should be built continue, I believe protecting our communities should always remain the utmost priority. I support local governments instituting moratoriums on new data center construction until certain conditions are met to the community’s satisfaction. We must ensure local control is paramount in any decision, environmental safeguards are instituted, and strict electricity rate protections are in place.

I also have strong concerns with Chinese companies and our adversaries building data centers in our backyards or utilizing current centers to undermine our economy and national security. This should not be allowed.

If local communities decide to build a data center, they should feel safe with who is building in their backyard and how they are utilizing local resources.