Data centers, especially those powering artificial intelligence, are expanding across the country at a remarkable pace. As we navigate this moment of technological change, we must decide how to move forward in a way that honors both the communities who call these places home and the natural world that sustains them.

Our faith tradition teaches us to care for all of God's creation: not just humanity, but animals and the environment as well. The United Church of Christ's resolutions reaffirm this commitment to God's people and God's planet. Our faith calls us to look beyond our own comfort and convenience, and it would be antithetical to that calling if we failed to do everything in our power to protect creation even as we advance new technology. 

Data centers are still too new for us to fully understand their long-term effects on surrounding communities and the environment. That uncertainty demands responsible stewardship. We need frequent, transparent tracking of air and water quality near these facilities, along with clear accounting of their electricity use so that data centers are required to generate the energy they consume rather than straining public resources. With so many parts of our country already facing drought and water shortages, we cannot afford to spend precious water on unnecessary technological expansion. 

Congress has the power to bring transparency and accountability to this industry. The Data Center Transparency Act (H.R. 6984) would require the EPA to issue quarterly reports on the water and air quality impacts of data centers. The Preventing Rate Inflation in Consumer Energy Act, or PRICE Act (H.R. 6983), would require large-scale data centers to generate their own electricity, preventing grid overload and protecting American families from AI-driven spikes in energy costs. It would also set clear timelines pushing data centers toward clean energy sources, advancing environmental sustainability for the long term. 

Write to your members of Congress and urge them to support the Data Center Transparency Act (H.R. 6984) and PRICE Act (H.R. 6983) today!