The New Yorker Interview

Bernie Sanders Takes on Data Centers

伯尼·桑德斯向数据中心宣战

The Vermont senator co-sponsored a bill that calls for a moratorium on building data centers. He discusses the environmental and economic concerns, and what the government can do.

这位佛蒙特州参议员联合发起了一项法案，呼吁暂停新建数据中心。他谈到了环境与经济方面的担忧，以及政府可以采取哪些措施。

By David Remnick

August 14, 2026

The data centers that power artificial intelligence are being built at a rampant pace, and are spurring resistance all over the country. Apart from public concerns about A.I.’s impact on jobs, privacy, and other aspects of life, data centers consume vast amounts of electricity and water. New York has passed a moratorium on new data centers; fourteen other states have considered restrictions. The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders is taking this fight to the national level. He and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced legislation that calls for a nationwide moratorium on data centers to allow time for more research and public input on the issue. The furor, Sanders tells David Remnick, cuts across political divisions. The opponents “are conservatives, they are progressives, they are moderates,” he adds. “They’re saying, What the hell are we doing? What is this gonna contribute to? Is this gonna result in my kid not being able to have a job? Is this gonna result in my not having any privacy? Why am I aiding these large corporations owned by the wealthiest people in the world who [couldn’t] care less about me? Let’s stand up.”

支撑人工智能运行的数据中心正以疯狂的速度建设，并在全美各地引发抵制。除了公众对人工智能影响就业、隐私及生活其他方面的担忧之外，数据中心还消耗着巨量的电力和水资源。纽约州已通过暂停新建数据中心的禁令；另有十四个州也在考虑限制措施。佛蒙特州参议员伯尼·桑德斯（Bernie Sanders）正将这场斗争推向全国层面。他与众议员亚历山德里娅·奥卡西奥-科尔特斯（Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez）共同提出立法，呼吁在全国范围内暂停数据中心建设，以便为相关研究和公众意见征集留出时间。桑德斯告诉戴维·雷姆尼克（David Remnick），这股愤怒情绪跨越了政治分歧。反对者“有保守派，有进步派，也有中间派，”他补充道。“他们在说，我们到底在干什么？这最终会带来什么？会不会让我的孩子找不到工作？会不会让我失去所有隐私？我为什么要帮这些由全世界最富有的人拥有、对我毫不关心的大公司？我们要站出来。”