Planned digital infrastructure expansion in the US faces a significant regulatory hurdle as newly elected officials in nine states move to restrict the buildout of new AI facilities. These jurisdictions have pledged to halt or pause construction on a pipeline that includes 158.6 GW of capacity, accounting for approximately 41% of all planned data center projects in the country, according to market intelligence firm Cleanview. Texas is the most heavily affected, with 88.4 GW of capacity at risk, followed by Ohio with 21.9 GW and Georgia with 20.2 GW.
The proposed moratoria occur as spending on software and information-processing equipment has become a primary engine of US growth, with contributions to the economy currently exceeding those seen during the Dot-Com boom. While some regions are tightening restrictions to curb investment, other states such as Tennessee and South Carolina have elected pro-industry leaders, and Florida’s Governor-elect Byron Donalds has pledged support for the sector. Analysts warn that while pauses could reduce the risk of an AI spending bubble, a sudden contraction in infrastructure investment could remove a critical source of wealth gains and growth.