Andy Zahn

Data centers pose an existential threat to our communities and our environment on many levels; both in the numerous unintended side effects, and in their intended purpose. They imperil our health, our happiness, our livelihoods, our clean air and water, our food supply, climate, natural ecosystems, and all but a small percentage provide no real positive benefit to us. Therefore, it is necessary to take decisive action against data centers to the greatest and widest extent possible.

Note that while I am focused on state-level actions which Washington and other state and local jurisdictions could implement, ultimately we need federal and international action against data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency. Some actions are beyond what states and local governments can enact. For example, I believe that congress should exempt all works wholly or partially created using generative AI from copyright protection. This would greatly cripple the commercial viability of generative AI.

With this in mind, I propose the following measures which Washington should take to fight back against data centers, the adoption of which I hope will embolden other states to follow suit:

1. A permanent moratorium on the construction of new data centers.
2. Ban existing data centers from running generative AI and cryptocurrency software.
3. Require that data centers face power/water restrictions first in the case of shortages.
4. Put into place strict efficiency requirements for data centers in terms of energy/water consumption, with guidelines in place to increase the severity of these requirements with the progress of technological advancement.
5. Place a high tax rate on the power and water consumption of data centers.
6. Prohibit data centers from being powered by combustion-based generators.
7. Mandate noise emission restrictions across the audible and non-audible sound spectrum.
8. Require full on-site treatment of water to remove all contaminants.
9. Prohibit the commercial use of generative AI in Washington State.
10. Prohibit the use of generative AI by government agencies and elected officials.
11. Require prominent labeling of all AI generated content.
12. Establish a requirement that businesses employ a certain number of workers based on their revenue. If the employer employs fewer than that number of workers they must pay a tax equal to the average income of a worker in the state per worker not employed. The resulting funds would be directed to a universal basic income.

These actions by the state government would serve to both prevent further data center proliferation, and ensure that existing data centers be operated in such a manner as to not pollute or otherwise affect the community or society at-large, contribute excessively to the demand for power and water, and would limit the contribution of data centers to the climate crisis.

Opposition to data centers and generative AI is a topic upon which the vast majority of Americans agree, regardless of political affiliation. Concern for the threat such technology poses to our clean air and water, our productive farmland, our livelihoods, and human creativity itself are both legitimate and widely held by experts and the general public alike.

Washington can and should take a strong stance against data centers and generative AI. We must set an example for the rest of the nation, and the world.