Data-center opposition drives new moratoriums and energy requirements in the US and Europe

Opposition to data-center development is translating into more direct regulatory constraints in parts of the US and Europe. During summer 2026, opponents held 142 demonstrations across 42 US states, according to the source material.

New York introduced a one-year moratorium in 2026 on new data centers rated at 50 MW or above. The stated 50 MW threshold is identified as IT load in the available material, although the underlying regulatory definition is not specified. In Monterey Park, California, 86% of referendum participants supported a ban on data-center construction.

Amsterdam has imposed a moratorium on new data-center construction and expansions of existing facilities within the municipality until at least 2030. Consideration of new applications has been deferred to 2035. These measures directly limit both greenfield development and capacity additions at existing sites within the city boundary.

Ireland has adopted energy requirements for new large data centers. New facilities must establish generation capable of fully covering their maximum electricity demand. Within six years of commissioning, a facility must cover 80% of its annual electricity consumption with newly built wind or solar capacity developed specifically for the project. The source states that data centers account for 23% of Ireland’s total electricity consumption.

For developers and operators, the emerging pattern raises the importance of early engagement with municipalities, transparent treatment of infrastructure impacts, and integrating new generation into project economics. It could also shift some demand toward jurisdictions with less restrictive development and energy conditions. The measures described are jurisdiction-specific, but collectively illustrate how community acceptance, water and grid constraints can become material determinants of data-center capacity delivery.