Ocasio-Cortez Challenges EPA Over Data Center Water Pollution

During a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing, Ocasio-Cortez questioned EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jessica Kramer regarding reports of environmental degradation linked to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. While Kramer acknowledged awareness of general water usage complaints, she admitted the agency had not yet investigated claims of direct water quality decline near such facilities.

To illustrate the severity of the issue, Ocasio-Cortez displayed a jar of murky, brown water collected from a residence in Morgan County, Georgia. She detailed a pattern of local distress, noting that construction activities, including heavy blasting and forest clearing, have crippled local water systems. Residents report failing appliances, diminished water pressure, and a 33% projected increase in water bills, forcing families to rely on bottled water for daily survival.

In response to the demonstration, Kramer committed to reviewing the situation upon returning to her office, emphasizing that the EPA maintains a mandate to ensure all construction projects adhere to federal water safety standards. This confrontation arrives as Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders push for a nationwide moratorium on AI data center construction to establish more rigorous safeguards. Meanwhile, industry-backed political groups are mobilizing, pledging $100 million in the 2026 midterm elections to promote federal legislation that would preempt state-level restrictions on the technology sector.