To beat China in AI, America must work with communities — not around them

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.

DEMOCRATS CAN TAKE THE LEAD ON ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP ISSUES – DATA CENTERS 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: US ADVERSARY TURNS UP THE HEAT ON AMERICA’S AI LEAD WITH AN UNDERESTIMATED EDGE ONE OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST INDUSTRIES IS SPARKING A BLUE-COLLAR JOBS BOOM Communities have every right to demand responsible development from companies making enormous investments.

The goal should be to secure those protections without turning away the jobs, investment and tax revenue responsible projects can bring.

AMERICA NEEDS AI TO SURVIVE.

WORKING FAMILIES ALSO NEED TO SURVIVE IT These commitments are not merely aspirational.